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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 1, 2017

 

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM F-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

 

NUCANA PLC

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Not Applicable

(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)

 

England and Wales (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		2834 (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)		Not Applicable (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

 

NuCana plc

10 Lochside Place

Edinburgh, EH12 9RG

United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 (0)131 248 3660

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

 

 

 

Corporation Service Company

251 Little Falls Drive Wilmington, DE 19808

United States

Telephone: +1 302 636 5400

(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

 

 

 

Copies to:

 

William C. Hicks, Esq. William T. Whelan, Esq. John T. Rudy, Esq. Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. One Financial Center Boston, MA 02111 Telephone: +1 617 542 6000 Facsimile: +1 617 542 2241		Hugh S. Griffith Chief Executive Officer NuCana plc 10 Lochside Place Edinburgh, EH12 9RG United Kingdom Telephone: +44 (0)131 248 3660		Divakar Gupta, Esq. Brent B. Siler, Esq. Nicole C. Brookshire, Esq. Cooley LLP 1114 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 Telephone: +1 212 479 6000 Facsimile: +1 212 479 6275

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement.

 

If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. ☐

 

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

 

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

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If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933. Emerging growth company ☒

 

If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, 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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

 

† The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.

 

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of each class of securities to be registered		Proposed maximum aggregate offering price(3)(4)		Amount of registration fee(5)
Ordinary Shares, nominal value £0.01 per share(1)(2)		$115,000,000		$13,328.50

(1)

These ordinary shares are represented by American Depositary Shares, or ADSs, each of which represents              ordinary shares of the registrant.

 

(2)

ADSs issuable on deposit of the ordinary shares registered hereby will be registered pursuant to a separate registration statement on Form F-6 (File No.: 333-              ).

 

(3)

Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the amount of the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(o) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

(4)

Includes the aggregate offering price of additional ordinary shares represented by ADSs that the underwriters may purchase pursuant to an option to purchase additional shares solely to cover over-allotments, if any.

 

(5)

Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(o) based on an estimate of the proposed maximum aggregate offering price.

 

 

 

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to such Section 8(a), may determine.

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The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

 

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

 

             American Depositary Shares

 

Representing              Ordinary Shares

$        per American Depositary Share

 

 

 

This is the initial public offering of our American Depositary Shares, or ADSs. We are selling              of our ADSs in this offering. Each ADS will represent              ordinary shares, nominal value £0.01 per share. The ADSs may be evidenced by American Depositary Receipts, or ADRs.

 

We expect that the initial public offering price will be between $         and $         per ADS. No public market has previously existed for our ADSs or ordinary shares. We have applied to list the ADSs on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “NCNA.”

 

We are an “emerging growth company” as such term is used in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 and, as such, have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements.

 

 

 

Investing in our ADSs involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 11.

 

Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

		Per ADS				Total
Public Offering Price		$				$
Underwriting Discounts and Commissions1		$				$
Proceeds to NuCana (before expenses)		$				$

 

(1)

We refer you to “Underwriting” beginning on page 188 for additional information regarding underwriting compensation.

 

The underwriters have an option to purchase up to             additional ADSs from us at the public offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us, for 30 days after the date of this prospectus to cover over-allotments, if any.

 

Delivery of the ADSs will be made against payment in New York, New York on or about                 , 2017.

 

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

Citigroup		Jefferies		Cowen

 

 

 

Co-Manager

 

William Blair

 

                    , 2017

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You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and any related free-writing prospectus that we authorize to be distributed to you. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized any person to provide you with information different from that contained in this prospectus or any related free-writing prospectus that we authorize to be distributed to you. This prospectus is not an offer to sell, nor is it seeking an offer to buy, these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. The information in this prospectus speaks only as of the date of this prospectus unless the information specifically indicates that another date applies, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of the securities offered hereby.

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

		Page
About This Prospectus			ii
Presentation of Financial Information			ii
Summary			1
Risk Factors			11
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements			64
Exchange Rates			65
Use of Proceeds			66
Dividends and Dividend Policy			67
Capitalization			68
Dilution			70
Selected Consolidated Financial Data			72
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			73
Business			88
Management			132
Related Party Transactions			143
Principal Shareholders			145
Description of Share Capital			147
Description of American Depositary Shares			166
Shares and ADSs Eligible for Future Sale			177
Taxation			179
Underwriting			188
Expenses of the Offering			194
Legal Matters			195
Experts			195
Service of Process and Enforcement of Judgments			195
Where You Can Find More Information			195
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements			F-1

 

 

 

No action is being taken in any jurisdiction outside the United States to permit a public offering of the ADSs or possession or distribution of this prospectus in that jurisdiction. Persons who come into possession of this prospectus in jurisdictions outside the United States are required to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions as to this offering and the distribution of the prospectus applicable to that jurisdiction.

 

We are incorporated under the laws of England and Wales and a majority of our outstanding securities are owned by non-U.S. residents. Under the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, we are currently eligible for treatment as a “foreign private issuer.” As a foreign private issuer, we will not be required to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as domestic registrants whose securities are registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

On August 29, 2017, we re-registered NuCana BioMed Limited as a public limited company and changed our name from NuCana BioMed Limited to NuCana plc.

 

Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, in this prospectus, “NuCana,” “NuCana BioMed Limited,” “NuCana plc,” the “Group,” the “company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to (i) NuCana BioMed Limited and its consolidated subsidiaries prior to the re-registration of NuCana BioMed Limited as a public limited company and (ii) NuCana plc and its consolidated subsidiaries after the re-registration of NuCana BioMed Limited as a public limited company. See “Description of Share Capital.”

 

PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

We report under International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IASB. None of the financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. We present our financial statements in pounds sterling and in accordance with IFRS. All references in this prospectus to “$” are to U.S. dollars and all references to “£” are to pounds sterling. Unless otherwise indicated, certain U.S. dollar amounts contained in this prospectus have been translated into pounds sterling at the rate on June 30, 2017 of £1.00 to $1.2995. These translations should not be considered representations that any such amounts have been, could have been or could be converted into pounds sterling at that or any other exchange rate as of that or any other date.

 

We have made rounding adjustments to some of the figures included in this prospectus. Accordingly, numerical figures shown as totals in some tables may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures that preceded them.

 

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RISK FACTORS

 

Investing in the ADSs involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the following risk factors and all other information contained in this prospectus, including our consolidated financial statements and the related notes, before investing in the ADSs. The risks and uncertainties described below are those significant risk factors, currently known and specific to us, that we believe are relevant to an investment in the ADSs. If any of these risks materialize, our business, results of operations or financial condition could suffer, the price of the ADSs could decline and you could lose part or all of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we now deem immaterial may also harm us and adversely affect your investment in the ADSs.

 

Risks Related to Our Business and Industry

 

We have incurred significant operating losses since our inception. We expect to incur losses for the foreseeable future and may never achieve or maintain profitability.

 

We have incurred significant operating losses since our inception. We incurred net losses of £5.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, £6.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 and £4.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017. As of December 31, 2016, we had an accumulated deficit of £22.3 million and, as of June 30, 2017, we had retained earnings of £15.8 million. The retained earnings balance includes the impact of the reduction of our share premium account and corresponding increase to our retained earnings (accumulated deficit) account reflected as of June 30, 2017 in connection with our re-registration as a public limited company, as further described in footnote 10 to the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements. Our most advanced product candidate, Acelarin, is currently being evaluated in four clinical trials: two Phase 1b trials, one Phase 2 trial, and one multi-year investigator-sponsored Phase 3 trial. Our other clinical-stage product candidate, NUC-3373, is currently in a Phase 1 trial. It may be several years, if ever, before we have a product candidate ready for commercialization. To date, we have financed our operations primarily through private placements of our equity securities. We expect to continue to incur significant expenses and increasing operating losses for the foreseeable future. The net losses we incur may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter. We anticipate that our expenses will increase substantially if and as we:

 

•

continue development of our ProTides, including initiating additional clinical trials of Acelarin and NUC-3373;

 

•

complete preclinical studies and potentially initiate clinical trials of our preclinical-stage product candidates, including our product candidate NUC-7738;

 

•

identify and develop new product candidates;

 

•

establish a robust supply chain for the manufacture of our product candidates in accordance with current good manufacturing practice, or cGMP;

 

•

seek marketing approvals for our product candidates that successfully complete clinical trials;

 

•

establish a sales, marketing and distribution infrastructure to commercialize any products for which we obtain marketing approval;

 

•

pursue market acceptance of our product candidates in the medical community and with third-party payors;

 

•

maintain, expand and protect our intellectual property portfolio;

 

•

expand our headcount by recruiting personnel to drive our clinical development programs and effectively manage out-sourced development activities;

 

•

enter into collaboration arrangements, if any, for the development of our product candidates or in-license other products and technologies;

 

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•

achieve milestones which will trigger payments under our license agreements;

 

•

add operational, financial and management information systems and personnel, including personnel to support our product development and planned future commercialization efforts; and

 

•

incur increased administrative and other costs as a result of operating as a public company.

 

Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with developing new pharmaceutical drugs, we are unable to predict the extent of any future losses or when we will become profitable, if at all. In addition, our expenses could increase beyond expectations if we are required by the European Medicines Agency, or EMA, the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, or other foreign regulatory agencies, to perform studies and clinical trials in addition to those that we currently anticipate, or if there are any delays in the completion of planned clinical trials or the development of any of our ProTides.

 

To become and remain profitable, we must develop and eventually commercialize products with significant market potential. This will require us to be successful in a range of challenging activities, including the following:

 

•

completing clinical trials of our product candidates that achieve their clinical endpoints;

 

•

obtaining marketing approval for our product candidates;

 

•

manufacturing, marketing and selling those products for which we may obtain marketing approval; and

 

•

achieving market acceptance of our product candidates in the medical community and with third-party payors.

 

We may never succeed in these activities and, even if we do, may never generate revenues that are significant or large enough to achieve profitability. If we do achieve profitability, we may not be able to sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis. Our failure to become and remain profitable would decrease the value of the company and could impair our ability to raise capital, maintain our discovery and preclinical development efforts, expand our business or continue our operations and may require us to raise additional capital that may dilute your ownership interest. A decline in the value of our company could also cause you to lose all or part of your investment.

 

We depend heavily on the success of our product candidates, Acelarin, NUC-3373 and NUC-7738. We cannot give any assurance that these product candidates will receive regulatory approval for any indication, which is necessary before any of them can be commercialized. If we, and any collaborators with whom we may enter into agreements for the development and commercialization of any of these product candidates, are unable to commercialize them, or experience significant delays in doing so, our ability to generate revenue and our financial condition will be adversely affected.

 

We do not currently generate any revenues from sales of any products, and we may never be able to develop or commercialize a marketable product. We have invested substantially all of our efforts and financial resources to date in the development of Acelarin, NUC-3373 and NUC-7738. Our ability to generate product revenues, which we do not expect will occur for at least the next several years, if ever, will depend heavily on the successful development and eventual commercialization of these product candidates, if approved, which may never occur. Each of Acelarin, NUC-3373 and NUC-7738 will require additional clinical development, management of clinical, preclinical and manufacturing activities, regulatory approval in multiple jurisdictions, procurement of manufacturing supply, commercialization, substantial additional investment and significant marketing efforts before we generate any revenues from product sales, if at all. We are not permitted to market or promote any product candidates in the United States, Europe or other countries before we receive regulatory approval from the FDA, the EMA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities, and we may never receive such regulatory approval for Acelarin, NUC-3373 or NUC-7738 or any future product candidate. We have not submitted a New Drug Application, or NDA, to the FDA, a Marketing Authorization Application, or MAA, to

 

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the EMA or comparable applications to other regulatory authorities for any of our product candidates and do not expect to be in a position to do so in the foreseeable future. The success of our product candidates will depend on many factors, including the following with respect to each of Acelarin, NUC-3373 and NUC-7738, specifically:

 

•

we may not be able to demonstrate that the product candidate is safe and effective as a treatment for our targeted indications to the satisfaction of the applicable regulatory authorities;

 

•

the applicable regulatory authorities may require additional preclinical or clinical trials of the product candidate, including additional toxicology trials, which would increase our costs and prolong our development;

 

•

the results of clinical trials of our product candidates may not meet the level of statistical or clinical significance required by the applicable regulatory authorities for marketing approval;

 

•

the applicable regulatory authorities may disagree with the number, design, size, conduct or implementation of our planned clinical trials;

 

•

the contract research organizations, or CROs, that we retain to conduct clinical trials may take actions outside of our control that adversely impact our clinical trials;

 

•

the applicable regulatory authorities may not find the data from preclinical studies and clinical trials sufficient to demonstrate that the clinical and other benefits of the product candidate outweigh its safety risks;

 

•

the applicable regulatory authorities may disagree with our interpretation of data from preclinical studies and clinical trials or may require that we conduct additional studies;

 

•

the applicable regulatory authorities may not accept data generated at our clinical trial sites;

 

•

if we submit an NDA to the FDA or an MAA to the EMA, and it is reviewed by an advisory committee, the advisory committee may recommend against approval of our application or may recommend that the FDA or the EMA require, as a condition of approval, additional preclinical studies or clinical trials, limitations on approved labeling or distribution and use restrictions;

 

•

the applicable regulatory authorities may require development of a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy, or REMS, as a condition of approval;

 

•

the applicable regulatory authorities may change its approval policies or adopt new regulations;

 

•

the applicable regulatory authorities may identify deficiencies in our formulation and manufacturing processes or facilities of our third-party manufacturers;

 

•

we may face delays in our formulation and manufacturing process as a result of having not yet optimized formulations or due to lack of availability of starting materials;

 

•

we may be unable to scale up the manufacture process for some of our product candidates;

 

•

we may face challenges on the safe and appropriate administration of our drugs in the clinic, including with respect to the conversion of our product candidates from a dry powder formulation to a liquid formulation prior to intravenous, or IV, administration, precipitation or other blockages in IV infusion lines, and the handling and storage of the IV infusion bags containing our product candidates, any of which may result in the need to carry out additional studies on the administration and compatibility of our product candidates with infusion sets and pumps;

 

•

we may be faced with challenges from third parties on our right to use certain processes used in the formulation and process development of our product candidates;

 

•

we may have to defend our patents against infringement by third parties;

 

•

we may unknowingly infringe third-party patents;

 

•

we may face a “freedom to operate” issue;

 

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•

we will be dependent on the efforts of third parties in completing clinical trials of, receiving regulatory approval for and commercializing, any product candidate we license to such third parties;

 

•

through our clinical trials, we may discover factors that limit the commercial viability of the product candidate or make their commercialization unfeasible;

 

•

we may not be successful in completing preclinical studies and clinical trials of, receiving marketing approvals for, establishing commercial manufacturing capabilities for and commercializing, any product candidate to which we retain rights under a collaboration agreement; and

 

•

we may not be successful in gaining acceptance of any product candidate by patients, the medical community and third-party payors, effectively competing with other therapies, maintaining a continued acceptable safety profile following approval and qualifying for, maintaining, enforcing and defending our intellectual property rights and claims.

 

With respect to each of Acelarin, NUC-3373 and NUC-7738, if we or our suppliers, as applicable, do not overcome one or more of these factors in a timely manner or at all, we could experience significant delays or an inability to successfully commercialize that product candidate.

 

We cannot be certain that Acelarin, NUC-3373 or NUC-7738 or any future product candidates will be successful in clinical trials or receive regulatory approval. Further, Acelarin, NUC-3373 or NUC-7738 or any future product candidates may not receive regulatory approval even if they are successful in clinical trials. If we do not receive regulatory approvals for Acelarin, NUC-3373 or NUC-7738 or any future product candidates, we may not be able to continue our operations. Even if we successfully obtain regulatory approvals to manufacture and market Acelarin, NUC-3373 or NUC-7738 or any future product candidates, our revenues will be dependent, in part, upon the size of the markets in the territories for which we gain regulatory approval and have commercial rights. If the markets for patient groups that we are targeting are not as significant as we estimate, we may not generate significant revenues from sales of such products, if approved.

 

We plan to seek regulatory approval to commercialize Acelarin, NUC-3373 and NUC-7738 in the United States and the European Union, and potentially in additional foreign countries. While the scope of regulatory approval is similar in many countries, to obtain separate regulatory approval in multiple countries requires us to comply with the numerous and varying regulatory requirements of such countries regarding safety and efficacy and governing, among other things, clinical trials, commercial sales, pricing and distribution of Acelarin, NUC-3373 and NUC-7738, and we cannot predict success in these jurisdictions.

 

Our lack of any approved products and our limited operating history may make it difficult for you to evaluate the success of our business to date and to assess our future viability.

 

Biopharmaceutical drug development is a highly speculative undertaking and involves a substantial degree of risk. Our operations to date have been limited to organizing and staffing our company, business planning, raising capital, developing our technology, identifying potential product candidates, undertaking preclinical studies, and conducting early-stage, non-comparative clinical trials of Acelarin and NUC-3373. We have not yet demonstrated our ability to successfully complete large-scale, randomized, pivotal clinical trials compared to standards of care, obtain marketing approvals, manufacture a commercial scale product, or arrange for a third party to do so on our behalf, or conduct sales and marketing activities necessary for successful product commercialization. Typically, it takes several years to develop one new drug from the time it is discovered to when it is available for treating patients. In addition, we may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays and other known and unknown factors. We will need to transition from a company with a research and development focus to a company capable of supporting commercial activities. We may not be successful in such a transition.

 

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We will require substantial additional funding which may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. If we fail to obtain additional financing, we may be unable to complete the development and commercialization of our product candidates or continue our development programs.

 

The development of pharmaceutical drugs is capital-intensive. We expect our expenses to increase with our ongoing activities, particularly as we conduct larger-scale clinical trials of, and seek marketing approval for, our product candidates. In addition, if we obtain marketing approval for any of our product candidates, we expect to incur significant commercialization expenses related to product sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution. We may also need to raise additional funds sooner if we choose to pursue additional indications or geographies for our product candidates or otherwise expand more rapidly than we presently anticipate. Furthermore, upon the closing of this offering, we expect to incur additional costs associated with operating as a public company. Accordingly, we will need to obtain substantial additional funding in connection with our continuing operations.

 

As of June 30, 2017, we had £15.9 million in cash and cash equivalents. We believe, based upon our current operating plan, that, our cash and cash equivalents on hand, together with the net proceeds from this offering, will be sufficient to fund our anticipated operations for at least              months. Our future capital requirements and the period for which we expect our existing resources to support our operations may vary significantly from what we expect. Our monthly spending levels vary based on new and ongoing research and development and other corporate activities. Because the length of time and activities associated with successful research and development of our product candidates is highly uncertain, we are unable to estimate the actual funds we will require for development and any approved marketing and commercialization activities. In addition, our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, and could increase significantly as a result of many factors, including:

 

•

the scope, progress, results and costs of preclinical development, laboratory testing and clinical trials for our product candidates;

 

•

the scope, prioritization and number of our research and development programs;

 

•

the costs, timing and outcome of regulatory review of our product candidates;

 

•

the extent to which we enter into non-exclusive, jointly funded clinical research collaboration arrangements, if any, for the development of our product candidates in combination with other companies’ products;

 

•

our ability to establish collaboration arrangements for the development of our product candidates on favorable terms, if at all;

 

•

the achievement of milestones or occurrence of other developments that trigger payments under our license agreements and any collaboration agreements into which we may enter, if any;

 

•

the extent to which we are obligated to reimburse, or entitled to reimbursement of, clinical trial costs under future collaboration agreements, if any;

 

•

the extent to which we acquire or in-license product candidates and technologies, and the terms of such in-licenses;

 

•

the costs of future commercialization activities, including product sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution, for any of our product candidates for which we receive marketing approval;

 

•

revenue, if any, received from commercial sales of our product candidates, should any of our product candidates receive marketing approval; and

 

•

the costs of preparing, filing and prosecuting patent applications, maintaining and enforcing our intellectual property rights and defending intellectual property-related claims.

 

Conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials is a time-consuming, expensive and uncertain process that can take years to complete, and we may never generate the necessary data or results required to obtain marketing

 

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approval and achieve product sales. In addition, our product candidates, if approved, may not achieve commercial success. Our commercial revenues, if any, will be derived from sales of products that may not be commercially available for several years, if ever. Accordingly, we will need to continue to rely on additional financing to achieve our business objectives.

 

Any additional fundraising efforts may divert our management from their day-to-day activities, which may adversely affect our ability to develop and commercialize our product candidates. Volatility in the financial markets has generally made equity and debt financing more difficult to obtain, and may compromise our ability to meet our fundraising needs. We cannot guarantee that future financing will be available in sufficient amounts or on terms acceptable to us, if at all.

 

If we are unable to obtain funding on a timely basis, we may be required to significantly curtail, delay or discontinue one or more of our research or development programs or the commercialization of any product candidate or be unable to expand our operations or otherwise capitalize on our business opportunities.

 

Raising additional capital may cause dilution to our shareholders, including purchasers of ADSs in this offering, restrict our operations or require us to relinquish rights to our technologies or product candidates.

 

Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial product revenues, we expect to finance our cash needs through a combination of equity and debt financings. The sale of additional equity or convertible debt securities would dilute all of our shareholders, including purchasers of ADSs in this offering. The incurrence of indebtedness could result in increased fixed payment obligations, and we may be required to agree to certain restrictive covenants, such as limitations on our ability to incur additional debt, limitations on our ability to acquire, sell or license intellectual property rights, limitations on declaring dividends and other operating restrictions that could adversely impact our ability to conduct our business. Moreover, the terms of any financing may adversely affect the holdings or the rights of our shareholders and the issuance of additional securities, whether equity or debt, by us, or the possibility of such issuance, may cause the market price of our ADSs to decline.

 

We could decide to seek funds through collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements with third parties, and we could be required to do so at an earlier stage than otherwise would be desirable. In connection with any such collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements, we may be required to relinquish valuable rights to our intellectual property, future revenue streams, research programs or product candidates, grant rights to develop and market product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves, or otherwise agree to terms unfavorable to us.

 

We may be unable to use net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards and certain built-in losses to reduce future tax payments or benefit from favorable United Kingdom tax legislation.

 

As a United Kingdom resident company, we are subject to U.K. corporate taxation. We have generated losses since inception. As of June 30, 2017, we had cumulative carry forward tax losses of £8.5 million. Subject to any relevant restrictions, we expect these to be available to carry forward and offset against future operating profits. As a company that carries out extensive research and development activities, we benefit from the United Kingdom research and development tax credit regime for small and medium-sized companies, whereby we are able to surrender the trading losses that arise from our qualifying research and development activities for a payable tax credit of up to 33.35% of eligible research and development expenditures. Qualifying expenditures largely comprise employment costs for research staff, consumables and subcontract costs incurred as part of research projects. Certain subcontracted qualifying research expenditures are eligible for a cash rebate of up to 21.68%. The majority of our pipeline research, clinical trials management and manufacturing development activities are eligible for inclusion within these tax credit cash rebate claims. We may not be able to continue to claim payable research and development tax credits in the future as we become a public company because we may no longer qualify as a small or medium-sized company.

 

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We may benefit in the future from the United Kingdom’s “patent box” regime, which allows certain profits attributable to revenues from patented products to be taxed at an effective rate of 10%. As we have many different patents covering our products, future upfront fees, milestone fees, product revenues and royalties could be taxed at this favorably low tax rate. When taken in combination with the enhanced relief available on our research and development expenditures, we expect a long-term lower rate of corporation tax to apply to us. If, however, there are unexpected adverse changes to the United Kingdom research and development tax credit regime or the “patent box” regime, or for any reason we are unable to qualify for such advantageous tax legislation, or we are unable to use net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards and certain built-in losses to reduce future tax payments then our business, results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.

 

Our business may become subject to economic, political, regulatory and other risks associated with international operations.

 

As a company based in the United Kingdom, our business is subject to risks associated with conducting business internationally. Many of our suppliers and collaborative and clinical trial relationships are located outside the United States. Accordingly, our future results could be harmed by a variety of factors, including:

 

•

economic weakness, including inflation, or political instability in particular non-U.S. economies and markets;

 

•

differing and changing regulatory requirements for drug approvals in non-U.S. countries;

 

•

differing jurisdictions could present different issues for securing, maintaining or obtaining freedom to operate in such jurisdictions;

 

•

potentially reduced protection for intellectual property rights;

 

•

difficulties in compliance with non-U.S. laws and regulations;

 

•

changes in non-U.S. regulations and customs, tariffs and trade barriers;

 

•

changes in non-U.S. currency exchange rates of the pound sterling, the euro and currency controls;

 

•

changes in a specific country’s or region’s political or economic environment, including the implications of the 2016 decision of the eligible members of the U.K. electorate for the United Kingdom to withdraw from the European Union or any potential future referendum regarding the independence of Scotland;

 

•

trade protection measures, import or export licensing requirements or other restrictive actions by U.S. or non-U.S. governments;

 

•

differing reimbursement regimes and price controls in certain non-U.S. markets;

 

•

negative consequences from changes in tax laws;

 

•

compliance with tax, employment, immigration and labor laws for employees living or traveling abroad;

 

•

workforce uncertainty in countries where labor unrest is more common than in the United States;

 

•

difficulties associated with staffing and managing international operations, including differing labor relations;

 

•

production shortages resulting from any events affecting raw material supply or manufacturing capabilities abroad; and

 

•

business interruptions resulting from geo-political actions, including war and terrorism, or natural disasters including earthquakes, typhoons, floods and fires.

 

Exchange rate fluctuations may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

 

Owing to the international scope of our operations, fluctuations in exchange rates, particularly between the pound sterling and the U.S. dollar, may adversely affect us. Since the vote of a majority of the eligible members

 

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of the electorate in the United Kingdom to withdraw from the European Union in a national referendum held on June 23, 2016, referred to as “BREXIT,” there has been a significant increase in the volatility of the exchange rate between the pound sterling and the U.S. dollar and an overall weakening of the pound sterling. Although we are based in the United Kingdom, we source our active pharmaceutical ingredient, or API, and other raw materials and our research and development, manufacturing, consulting and other services worldwide, including from the United States, the European Union and India. Any weakening of the pound sterling against the currencies of such other jurisdictions makes the purchase of such goods and services more expensive for us. Further, potential future revenue may be derived from abroad, particularly from the United States. As a result, our business and the price of our ADSs may be affected by fluctuations in foreign exchange rates not only between the pound sterling and the U.S. dollar, but also the currencies of other countries, which may have a significant impact on our results of operations and cash flows from period to period. Currently, we do not have any exchange rate hedging arrangements in place.

 

Risks Related to Development of Our Product Candidates

 

Initial success in the completed and ongoing early-stage clinical trials may not be indicative of results obtained when these trials are completed or in later stage trials.

 

Acelarin is currently being evaluated in four clinical trials across numerous solid tumor indications: one Phase 1b trial in combination with cisplatin in patients with biliary cancer, one Phase 1b trial in patients with platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer, one Phase 2 trial in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer, and one multi-year investigator-sponsored Phase 3 trial in patients with pancreatic cancer. While Acelarin has shown high disease control rates and a favorable tolerability profile in early-stage trials, including in two first-in-human dose-ranging Phase 1 trials, we may not see such favorable data in future clinical trials involving Acelarin. Similarly, favorable results obtained from preclinical studies of NUC-3373 and in the ongoing Phase 1 trial in patients with advanced solid tumors may not be replicated in any future clinical trials. Data generated in these early stage Phase 1 trials are not suitable for marketing approval by the FDA or a comparable foreign regulatory authority. Furthermore, the results of our clinical trials may not meet the level of statistical significance required by the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities for marketing approval. Statistical significance means that an effect is unlikely to have occurred by chance. Clinical trial results are considered statistically significant when the probability of the results occurring by chance, rather than from the efficacy of the product candidate, is sufficiently low. There can be no assurance that any of our clinical trials will ultimately be successful or support further clinical development of any of our product candidates. There is a high failure rate for drugs proceeding through clinical trials. A number of companies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries have suffered significant setbacks in clinical development even after achieving promising results in earlier studies.

 

Preliminary and interim data from our clinical trials may change as patient enrollment continues, patient data are further examined and more patient data become available.

 

Preliminary or interim data from our clinical trials, including those from the Phase 1b trial of Acelarin in combination with cisplatin in patients with biliary cancer, the Phase 1b trial of Acelarin in patients with platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer, the Phase 2 trial of Acelarin in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer, the multi-year investigator-sponsored Phase 3 trial of Acelarin in patients with pancreatic cancer, the Phase 1 trial of NUC-3373 in patients with advanced solid tumors, and any future clinical trials of any of product candidates, are not necessarily predictive of final results and may change. Preliminary and interim data are subject to the risk that one or more of the clinical outcomes may materially change as patient enrollment continues, patient data are further examined, more patient data become available, and we prepare and issue our final clinical study report. As a result, preliminary and interim data should be viewed with caution until the final data are available. Material adverse changes in the final data compared to the preliminary or interim data could significantly harm our business prospects.

 

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We are very early in our development efforts. If we are unable to successfully develop and commercialize our product candidates or experience significant delays in doing so, our business will be harmed.

 

We currently do not have any products that have gained marketing approval. We have invested substantially all of our efforts and financial resources identifying and developing our ProTides, such as Acelarin, NUC-3373 and NUC-7738. Our ability to generate product revenues, which may not occur for several years, if ever, will depend on the successful development and eventual commercialization of Acelarin, for which two Phase 1b trials, one Phase 2 trial and one multi-year investigator-sponsored Phase 3 trial are ongoing, NUC-3373, for which one Phase 1 trial is ongoing, and NUC-7738, which is currently in preclinical development. We currently do not generate any revenues from sales of any products, and we may never be able to develop or commercialize a marketable drug. Each of our product candidates will require development, management of development and manufacturing activities, marketing approval in multiple jurisdictions, obtaining manufacturing supply, building of a commercial organization, substantial investment and significant marketing efforts before we generate any revenues from drug sales.

 

We have not yet demonstrated an ability to successfully overcome many of the risks and uncertainties frequently encountered by companies in new and rapidly evolving fields, particularly in the biopharmaceutical area. For example, to execute our business plan, we will need to successfully:

 

•

execute development activities for our product candidates, including successful enrollment in and completion of clinical trials;

 

•

manage our spending as costs and expenses increase due to preclinical development, clinical trials, marketing approvals and commercialization;

 

•

obtain required marketing approvals for the development and commercialization of our product candidates;

 

•

obtain and maintain patent and trade secret protection and regulatory exclusivity for our product candidates and ensure that we do not infringe the valid patent rights of third parties;

 

•

protect, leverage and expand our intellectual property portfolio;

 

•

establish and maintain clinical and commercial manufacturing capabilities or make arrangements with third-party manufacturers for clinical and commercial manufacturing;

 

•

build and maintain robust sales, distribution and marketing capabilities, either on our own or in collaboration with strategic partners, if our product candidates are approved;

 

•

gain acceptance for our product candidates, if approved, by patients, the medical community and third-party payors;

 

•

compete effectively with other therapies;

 

•

obtain and maintain healthcare coverage and adequate reimbursement;

 

•

maintain a continued acceptable safety profile for our product candidates following approval, if approved; and

 

•

develop and maintain any strategic relationships we elect to enter into, if any.

 

If we do not achieve one or more of these factors in a timely manner or at all, we could experience significant delays or an inability to successfully commercialize our product candidates, which would harm our business. If we do not receive marketing approvals for our product candidates, we may not be able to continue our operations.

 

If we experience delays or difficulties in the enrollment of patients in clinical trials, development of our product candidates may be delayed or prevented.

 

Identifying and qualifying patients to participate in clinical trials for our product candidates is critical to our success. We may not be able to initiate or continue clinical trials for our product candidates if we are unable to

 

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locate and enroll a sufficient number of eligible patients to participate in these trials. Patient enrollment may be affected by many factors including:

 

•

the severity of the disease under investigation;

 

•

the size of the patient population for a product indication;

 

•

the eligibility criteria for the clinical trial in question;

 

•

the perceived risks and benefits of the product candidate under study;

 

•

the efforts to facilitate timely enrollment in clinical trials;

 

•

the patient referral practices of physicians;

 

•

the availability of competing therapies and clinical trials; and

 

•

the proximity and availability of clinical trial sites for prospective patients.

 

If we experience delays or difficulties in the enrollment of patients in clinical trials, our clinical trials may be delayed or terminated. Any delays in completing our clinical trials will increase our costs, delay or prevent our product candidate development and approval process, and jeopardize our ability to commence product sales and generate revenue.

 

Clinical drug development involves a lengthy and expensive process, with an uncertain outcome. We may incur additional costs or experience delays in completing, or ultimately be unable to complete, the development and may experience delays in obtaining, or ultimately be unable to obtain, the approval of our product candidates.

 

The risk of failure in drug development is high. Acelarin is currently being studied in two Phase 1b trials, one Phase 2 trial and one multi-year investigator-sponsored Phase 3 trial, NUC-3373 is currently being studied in one Phase 1 trial, and NUC-7738 is in preclinical development. Before obtaining marketing approval from regulatory authorities for the sale of any product candidate, we must complete preclinical development and conduct extensive clinical trials to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of our product candidates in patients. Clinical trials are expensive, difficult to design and implement and can take several years to complete, and their outcome is inherently uncertain. Failure can occur at any time during the clinical trial process. Further, the results of preclinical studies and early clinical trials of our product candidates may not be predictive of the results of later-stage clinical trials, and interim results of a clinical trial do not necessarily predict final results. Moreover, preclinical and clinical data are often susceptible to varying interpretations and analyses, and many companies that have believed their product candidates performed satisfactorily in preclinical studies and clinical trials have nonetheless failed to obtain marketing approval of their products. It is impossible to predict when or if any of our product candidates will prove effective or safe in humans or will receive marketing approval.

 

We may experience numerous unforeseen events during, or as a result of, clinical trials that could delay or prevent our ability to receive marketing approval or commercialize our product candidates. Clinical trials may be delayed, suspended or prematurely terminated because costs are greater than we anticipate or for a variety of reasons, such as:

 

•

delay or failure in reaching agreement with the FDA, the EMA or a comparable foreign regulatory authority on a trial design that we are able to execute;

 

•

delay or failure in obtaining authorization to commence a trial or inability to comply with conditions imposed by a regulatory authority regarding the scope or design of a clinical trial;

 

•

delays in reaching, or failure to reach, agreement on acceptable terms with prospective trial sites and prospective CROs, the terms of which can be subject to extensive negotiation and may vary significantly among different CROs and trial sites;

 

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•

inability, delay, or failure in identifying and maintaining a sufficient number of trial sites, many of which may already be engaged in other clinical programs;

 

•

delay or failure in recruiting and enrolling suitable subjects to participate in a trial;

 

•

delay or failure in having subjects complete a trial or return for post-treatment follow-up;

 

•

clinical sites and investigators deviating from the clinical protocol, failing to conduct the trial in accordance with regulatory requirements, or dropping out of a trial;

 

•

failure to initiate or delay of or failure to complete a clinical trial as a result of an Investigational New Drug Application, or IND, being placed on clinical hold by the FDA, or for other reasons;

 

•

lack of adequate funding to continue a clinical trial, including unforeseen costs due to enrollment delays, requirements to conduct additional clinical trials and increased expenses associated with the services of our CROs and other third parties;

 

•

clinical trials of our product candidates may produce negative or inconclusive results, and we may decide, or regulators may require us, to conduct additional clinical trials or abandon product development programs;

 

•

the number of patients required for clinical trials of our product candidates may be larger than we anticipate, enrollment in these clinical trials may be slower than we anticipate or participants may drop out of these clinical trials at a higher rate than we anticipate;

 

•

our third-party contractors may fail to comply with regulatory requirements or meet their contractual obligations to us in a timely manner, or at all;

 

•

regulators, or a Data Safety Monitoring Board, or DSMB, if one is used for our clinical trials, may require that we suspend or terminate our clinical trials for various reasons, including noncompliance with regulatory requirements, unforeseen safety issues or adverse side effects, failure to demonstrate a benefit from using a drug, or a finding that the participants are being exposed to unacceptable health risks;

 

•

the supply or quality of our product candidates or other materials necessary to conduct clinical trials of our product candidates may be insufficient;

 

•

the FDA or other regulatory authorities may require us to submit additional data or impose other requirements before permitting us to initiate a clinical trial; or

 

•

there may be changes in governmental regulations or administrative actions.

 

Many of the factors that cause, or lead to, a delay in the commencement or completion of clinical trials may also ultimately lead to the denial of marketing approval for our product candidates. The FDA may disagree with our clinical trial design and our interpretation of data from clinical trials, or may change the requirements for approval even after it has reviewed and commented on the design for our clinical trials. Even though Acelarin and NUC-3373 are transformations of chemotherapeutic agents that have been widely used for many years and there is a clear unmet medical need in each of the indications that we are currently pursuing in the clinic, there can be no assurance that the FDA will permit us to move more quickly to the initiation of pivotal clinical trials in large patient populations. Furthermore, NUC-7738 is a transformation of cordycepin, a nucleoside analog that has never been successfully developed or approved as a chemotherapy, which may result in the need for more preclinical studies or clinical trials than would be the case for transformations of approved chemotherapeutic agents.

 

If we are required to conduct additional clinical trials or other studies of our product candidates beyond those that we currently contemplate, if we are unable to successfully complete clinical trials of our product candidates or other studies, if the results of these trials or tests are not positive or are only modestly positive or if there are safety concerns, we may:

 

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be delayed in obtaining marketing approval for our product candidates;

 

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•

not obtain marketing approval for our product candidates at all;

 

•

obtain approval for indications or patient populations that are not as broad as intended or desired;

 

•

obtain approval with labeling that includes significant use or distribution restrictions or safety warnings that would reduce the potential market for our products or inhibit our ability to successfully commercialize our products;

 

•

be subject to additional post-marketing restrictions or requirements, including confirmatory trials; or

 

•

have the product removed from the market after obtaining marketing approval.

 

Our product development costs will also increase if we experience delays in preclinical and clinical development or receiving the requisite marketing approvals. We do not know whether any of our preclinical studies or clinical trials will need to be restructured or will be completed on schedule, or at all. Significant preclinical or clinical trial delays also could shorten any periods during which we may have the exclusive right to commercialize our product candidates or allow our competitors to bring products to market before we do and impair our ability to successfully commercialize our product candidates and may harm our business and results of operations.

 

Due to our limited resources and access to capital, we must, and have in the past decided to, prioritize development of certain ProTide candidates over other potential candidates. These decisions may prove to have been wrong and may adversely affect our performance.

 

Because we have limited resources and access to capital to fund our operations, we must decide which ProTides to pursue and the amount of resources to allocate to each. Our decisions concerning the allocation of research, collaboration, management and financial resources toward particular ProTides or therapeutic areas may not lead to the development of viable commercial products and may divert resources away from better opportunities. Similarly, our decisions to delay, terminate or collaborate with third parties in respect of product development programs may also prove not to be optimal and could cause us to miss valuable opportunities. If we make incorrect determinations regarding the market potential of our ProTides or misread trends in the biopharmaceutical industry, in particular for our lead ProTides, then our business may be adversely affected.

 

We may not be successful in our efforts to use and expand our technology platform to build a pipeline of additional ProTide candidates.

 

A key element of our strategy is to use and expand our proprietary ProTide technology to build a pipeline of additional ProTide candidates and progress these ProTide candidates through clinical development for the treatment of cancer. Although our research and development efforts to date have resulted in a pipeline of ProTide candidates directed at the treatment of many solid tumors and hematological malignancies, we may not be able to develop ProTide candidates that are safe and effective. Even if we are successful in continuing to build our pipeline, the potential product candidates that we identify may not be suitable for clinical development, including as a result of being shown to have harmful side effects or other characteristics that indicate that they are unlikely to be products that will receive marketing approval and achieve market acceptance.

 

Risks Related to Marketing Approval of Our Product Candidates

 

If we are not able to obtain, or if there are delays in obtaining, required marketing approvals, we will not be able to commercialize our product candidates and our ability to generate revenue will be impaired.

 

Our product candidates and the activities associated with their development and commercialization, including their design, testing, manufacture, safety, efficacy, recordkeeping, labeling, storage, approval, advertising, promotion, sale, distribution, import and export are subject to comprehensive regulation by the FDA and other regulatory agencies in the United States and by comparable authorities in other countries.

 

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These requirements include submissions of safety and other post-marketing information and reports, registration and listing requirements, current good manufacturing practice, or cGMP, requirements relating to manufacturing, quality control, quality assurance and corresponding maintenance of records and documents, including periodic inspections by FDA and other regulatory authorities, requirements regarding the distribution of samples to physicians and recordkeeping. Before we can commercialize any of our product candidates, each such product candidate must be approved by the FDA pursuant to an NDA in the United States, by the EMA pursuant to a MAA in the European Union, and by similar regulatory authorities outside the United States prior to commercialization.

 

The process of obtaining marketing approvals, both in the United States and abroad, is expensive and takes several years, if approval is obtained at all, and can vary substantially based upon a variety of factors, including the type, complexity and novelty of the product candidates involved. Failure to obtain marketing approval for a product candidate will prevent us from commercializing the product candidate. We have not received approval to market any of our product candidates from regulatory authorities in any jurisdiction. We have limited experience in planning and conducting the clinical trials required for marketing approvals, and we expect to rely on third-party contract research organizations, or CROs, to assist us in this process. Obtaining marketing approval requires the submission of extensive preclinical and clinical data and supporting information to regulatory authorities for each therapeutic indication to establish the product candidate’s safety and efficacy. Securing marketing approval also requires the submission of information about the product manufacturing process, and in many cases the inspection of manufacturing facilities by the regulatory authorities. Our product candidates may not be effective, may be only moderately effective or may prove to have undesirable or unintended side effects, toxicities or other characteristics that may preclude our obtaining marketing approval or prevent or limit commercial use. Because a number of our clinical trials will be in combination with other approved therapies, there may also be undesirable or unintended side effects, toxicities or other characteristics resulting from the other therapy or from its combination with our product candidate. In addition, because our product candidates are transformations of nucleoside analogs, including those that are approved chemotherapeutic agents and those that have never been approved as chemotherapeutic agents, our product candidates could be negatively impacted by the identification of any new undesirable or unintended side effects, toxicities or other characteristics in such existing nuceloside analogs, in particular in those that have never been approved as chemotherapeutic agents. Although we use the proprietary name Acelarin for our product candidate NUC-1031, we have not obtained any conditional approval of this proprietary name and any goodwill or recognition that we accrue during development of the product candidate may be lost if we are required to select a different proprietary name in the course of obtaining regulatory approval, if such approval occurs at all.

 

Regulatory authorities have substantial discretion in the approval process and may refuse to accept any application or may decide that our data are insufficient for approval and require additional preclinical studies or clinical trials. Our product candidates could be delayed in receiving, or fail to receive, marketing approval for many reasons, including the following:

 

•

the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree with the design or implementation of our clinical trials or require that we perform additional clinical trials, including toxicology trials;

 

•

we may be unable to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities that a product candidate is safe and effective for its proposed indication;

 

•

the results of our clinical trials may not meet the level of statistical significance required by the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities for marketing approval;

 

•

we may be unable to demonstrate that a product candidate’s clinical and other benefits outweigh its safety risks;

 

•

the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree with our interpretation of data from preclinical studies or clinical trials;

 

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•

the data collected from clinical trials of our product candidates may not be sufficient to support the submission of an NDA or other submission to obtain marketing approval in the United States or elsewhere;

 

•

third-party manufacturers or our clinical or commercial product candidates may be unable to meet the FDA’s cGMP requirements or similar requirements of foreign regulatory authorities; and

 

•

the approval requirements or policies of the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may significantly change in a manner rendering our clinical data insufficient for approval.

 

In addition, even if we were to obtain approval, regulatory authorities may approve our product candidates for fewer or more limited indications than we request, may grant approval contingent on the performance of costly post-marketing clinical trials, or may approve a product candidate with a label that does not include the labeling claims necessary or desirable for the successful commercialization of that product candidate. Any of the foregoing scenarios could harm the commercial prospects for our product candidates.

 

If we experience delays in obtaining approval or if we fail to obtain approval of our product candidates, the commercial prospects for our product candidates may be harmed and our ability to generate revenues will be impaired.

 

Our product candidates may cause undesirable side effects that could delay or prevent their marketing approval, limit the commercial profile of an approved label, or result in significant negative consequences following marketing approval, if any.

 

Undesirable side effects caused by our product candidates could cause us or the FDA or other regulatory authorities to interrupt, delay or halt our clinical trials and could result in more restrictive labels or the delay or denial of marketing approval by the FDA or other regulatory authorities of our product candidates. Results of our clinical trials could reveal a high and unacceptable severity and prevalence of these or other side effects. In such an event, our trials could be suspended or terminated and the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities could order us to cease further development of or deny approval of our product candidates for any or all targeted indications. The drug-related side effects could also affect patient recruitment or the ability of enrolled patients to complete the trial or result in potential product liability claims.

 

Further, clinical trials by their nature utilize a sample of the potential patient population. With a limited number of patients, rare and severe side effects of our product candidates may only be uncovered with a significantly larger number of patients exposed to the product candidate. If our product candidates receive marketing approval and we or others identify undesirable side effects caused by such product candidates or any other similar drugs after such approval, a number of potentially significant negative consequences could result, including:

 

•

regulatory authorities may withdraw or limit their approval of such product candidates;

 

•

regulatory authorities may require the addition of labeling statements, such as a “boxed” warning or a contraindication;

 

•

we may be required to create a medication guide outlining the risks of such side effects for distribution to patients;

 

•

we may be required to change the way such product candidates are distributed or administered, conduct additional clinical trials or change the labeling of the product candidates;

 

•

regulatory authorities may require a REMS plan to mitigate risks, which could include medication guides, physician communication plans, or elements to assure safe use, such as restricted distribution methods, patient registries and other risk minimization tools;

 

•

we may be subject to regulatory investigations and government enforcement actions;

 

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•

we may decide to remove such product candidates from the marketplace after they are approved;

 

•

we could be sued and held liable for injury caused to individuals exposed to or taking our product candidates; and

 

•

our reputation may suffer.

 

In addition, the patient profile in the indications for which we are currently developing our product candidates, with many patients already seriously ill at the time of initiation of treatment, may result in an increased risk of claims that undesirable side effects or poor prognoses or outcomes are related to our product candidates. Regardless of whether or not such side effects or prognoses or outcomes are ultimately determined to be related to our product candidates, the claims themselves could result in some or all of the foregoing negative consequences.

 

We believe that any of these events could prevent us from achieving or maintaining market acceptance of the affected product candidates and could substantially increase the costs of commercializing our product candidates, if approved, and significantly impact our ability to successfully commercialize our product candidates and generate revenues.

 

A Fast Track Designation by the FDA, even if granted for any of our product candidates, may not lead to a faster development or regulatory review or approval process and does not increase the likelihood that our product candidates will receive marketing approval.

 

We do not currently have Fast Track Designation for any of our product candidates but may seek such designation. If a drug is intended for the treatment of a serious or life-threatening condition and the drug demonstrates the potential to address unmet medical needs for this condition, the drug sponsor may apply for FDA Fast Track Designation. The FDA has broad discretion whether to grant this designation. Even if we believe a particular product candidate is eligible for this designation, we cannot assure you that the FDA would decide to grant it. Even if we do receive Fast Track Designation, we may not experience a faster development process, review or approval compared to conventional FDA procedures. The FDA may withdraw Fast Track Designation if it believes that the designation is no longer supported by data from our clinical development program. Many drugs that have received Fast Track Designation have failed to obtain drug approval.

 

We may be unable to obtain orphan drug designation from the FDA for any of our product candidates, and even if we do obtain such designations, we may be unable to obtain or maintain the benefits associated with orphan drug designation, including the potential for orphan drug exclusivity.

 

Under the Orphan Drug Act, the FDA may designate a product as an orphan drug if it is intended to treat a rare disease or condition, defined as one occurring in a patient population of fewer than 200,000 in the United States, or a patient population greater than 200,000 in the United States where there is no reasonable expectation that the cost of developing the drug will be recovered from sales in the United States. In the European Union, the EMA’s Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products, or COMP, grants orphan drug designation to promote the development of products that are intended for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of a life-threatening or chronically debilitating condition affecting not more than five in 10,000 persons in the European Union. Additionally, designation is granted for products intended for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of a life-threatening, seriously debilitating or serious and chronic condition when, without incentives, it is unlikely that sales of the drug in the European Union would be sufficient to justify the necessary investment in developing the drug or biological product or where there is no satisfactory method of diagnosis, prevention or treatment, or, if such a method exists, the medicine must be of significant benefit to those affected by the condition.

 

In the United States, orphan drug designation entitles a party to financial incentives such as opportunities for grant funding towards clinical trial costs, tax credits for qualified clinical testing and user-fee waivers. In addition, if a product receives the first FDA approval of that drug for the indication for which it has orphan

 

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designation, the product is entitled to orphan drug exclusivity, which means the FDA may not approve any other application to market the same drug for the same indication for a period of seven years, except in limited circumstances, such as a showing of clinical superiority over the product with orphan exclusivity or where the manufacturer is unable to assure the availability of sufficient quantities of the orphan drug to meet the needs of patients with the rare disease or condition. Under the FDA’s regulations, the FDA will deny orphan drug exclusivity to a designated drug upon approval if the FDA has already approved another drug with the same active ingredient for the same indication, unless the drug is demonstrated to be clinically superior to the previously approved drug. In the European Union, orphan drug designation entitles a party to financial incentives such as reduction of fees or fee waivers and ten years of market exclusivity following approval. This period may be reduced to six years if the orphan drug designation criteria are no longer met, including where it is shown that the product is sufficiently profitable not to justify maintenance of market exclusivity.

 

We do not currently have orphan drug designation for any of our product candidates but may seek such designation. Even if we are able to obtain orphan designation for one or more of our product candidates in the United States or the European Union, we may not be the first to obtain marketing approval for any particular orphan indication due to the uncertainties associated with developing pharmaceutical products, which could prevent us from marketing such product candidate if another company is able to obtain orphan drug exclusivity before we do. In addition, exclusive marketing rights in the United States may be unavailable if we seek approval for an indication broader than the orphan-designated indication or may be lost if the FDA later determines that the request for designation was materially defective or if we are unable to assure sufficient quantities of the product to meet the needs of patients with the rare disease or condition following approval. Further, even if we obtain orphan drug exclusivity for one or more of our ProTides, that exclusivity may not effectively protect them from competition because different drugs with different active moieties can be approved for the same condition. In addition, the FDA or the EMA can subsequently approve products with the same active moiety for the same condition if the FDA or the EMA concludes that the later drug is safer, more effective, or makes a major contribution to patient care. Orphan drug designation neither shortens the development time or regulatory review time of a drug nor gives the drug any advantage in the regulatory review or approval process. In addition, while we may seek orphan drug designation for one or more of our product candidates, we may never receive such designations.

 

There have been legal challenges to aspects of the FDA’s regulations and policies concerning the exclusivity provisions of the Orphan Drug Act, and future challenges could lead to changes that affect the protections afforded our products in ways that are difficult to predict. In 2014, a U.S. district court invalidated the FDA’s denial of orphan exclusivity to an orphan designated drug, which the FDA had based on its determination that the drug was not proven to be clinically superior to a previously approved “same drug.” In response to the decision, the FDA released a policy statement stating that the court’s decision is limited just to the facts of that particular case and that the FDA will continue to deny orphan drug exclusivity to a designated drug upon approval if the drug is the “same” as a previously approved drug, unless the drug is demonstrated to be clinically superior to that previously approved drug. In April 2016, another similar legal challenge was initiated against the FDA for its denial of orphan drug exclusivity to another designated drug. In the future, there is the potential for additional legal challenges to the FDA’s orphan drug regulations and policies, and it is uncertain how ongoing and future challenges might affect our business.

 

Any product candidate for which we obtain marketing approval will be subject to extensive post-marketing regulatory requirements and could be subject to post-marketing restrictions or withdrawal from the market, and we may be subject to penalties if we fail to comply with regulatory requirements or if we experience unanticipated problems with our products, when and if any of them are approved.

 

If the FDA or a comparable foreign regulatory authority approves any of our product candidates, activities such as the manufacturing processes, labeling, packaging, distribution, adverse event reporting, storage, advertising, promotion and recordkeeping for the product will be subject to extensive and ongoing regulatory requirements. The FDA or a comparable foreign regulatory authority may also impose requirements for costly post-marketing preclinical studies or clinical trials and surveillance to monitor the safety or efficacy of the

 

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product. The FDA closely regulates the post-approval marketing and promotion of drugs to ensure drugs are marketed only for the approved indications and in accordance with the provisions of the approved labeling. The FDA imposes stringent restrictions on manufacturers’ communications regarding use of their products, and if we promote our products beyond their approved indications, we may be subject to enforcement actions or prosecution arising from that off-label promotion. Violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act relating to the promotion of prescription drugs may lead to investigations alleging violations of federal and state healthcare fraud and abuse and other laws, as well as state consumer protection laws.

 

In addition, later discovery of previously unknown adverse events or other problems with our products, manufacturers or manufacturing processes, or failure to comply with regulatory requirements, may yield various results, including:

 

•

restrictions on such products, manufacturers or manufacturing processes;

 

•

restrictions on the labeling or marketing of a product;

 

•

restrictions on product distribution or use;

 

•

requirements to conduct post-marketing studies or clinical trials;

 

•

warning or untitled letters;

 

•

withdrawal of the products from the market;

 

•

refusal to approve pending applications or supplements to approved applications that we submit;

 

•

recall of products;

 

•

fines, restitution or disgorgement of profits or revenues;

 

•

suspension or withdrawal of marketing approvals;

 

•

refusal to permit the import or export of our products;

 

•

product seizure; or

 

•

injunctions or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties.

 

Non-compliance with European Union requirements regarding safety monitoring or pharmacovigilance can also result in significant financial penalties. Similarly, failure to comply with the European Union’s requirements regarding the protection of personal information can also lead to significant penalties and sanctions.

 

The FDA’s policies may change and additional government regulations may be enacted that could prevent, limit or delay marketing approval of our product candidates. If we are slow or unable to adapt to changes in existing requirements or the adoption of new requirements or policies, or if we are not able to maintain regulatory compliance, we may lose any marketing approval that we may have obtained.

 

Our relationships with customers and third-party payors will be subject to applicable anti-kickback, fraud and abuse and other healthcare laws and regulations, which could expose us to criminal sanctions, civil penalties, contractual damages, reputational harm and diminished profits and future earnings.

 

Although we do not currently have any drugs on the market, once we begin commercializing our product candidates, we will be subject to additional healthcare statutory and regulatory requirements and enforcement by the U.S. federal and state governments and the foreign governments in the jurisdictions in which we conduct our business. Healthcare providers, physicians and third-party payors will play a primary role in the recommendation and prescription of any product candidates for which we obtain marketing approval. Our future arrangements with third-party payors and customers may expose us to broadly applicable fraud and abuse and other healthcare laws and regulations that may constrain the business or financial arrangements and relationships through which

 

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we market, sell and distribute any products for which we obtain marketing approval. Restrictions under applicable U.S. federal and state healthcare laws and regulations include the following:

 

•

the federal Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits, among other things, persons from knowingly and willfully soliciting, offering, receiving or paying remuneration, directly or indirectly, in cash or in kind, to induce or reward, or in return for, either the referral of an individual for, or the purchase, order or recommendation of, any good or service for which payment may be made under a federal healthcare program such as Medicare and Medicaid; a person or entity does not need to have actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it in order to have committed a violation;

 

•

the federal false claims laws, including, without limitation, the civil False Claims Act (which can be enforced by private citizens through qui tam actions), impose criminal and civil penalties against individuals or entities for knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, to the federal government, claims for payment that are false or fraudulent or making a false statement to avoid, decrease or conceal an obligation to pay money to the federal government; in addition, the government may assert that a claim including items and services resulting from a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the False Claims Act;

 

•

the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, imposes criminal and civil liability for executing a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program, or knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering up a material fact or making any materially false statement in connection with the delivery of or payment for healthcare benefits, items or services; similar to the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, a person or entity does not need to have actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it in order to have committed a violation;

 

•

the federal physician payment transparency requirements under the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, created under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, or collectively the ACA, require manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies that are reimbursable under Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program to report to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, information related to payments and other transfers of value to physicians and teaching hospitals and the ownership and investment interests of physicians and their immediate family members in such manufacturers;

 

•

HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act and its implementing regulations, which also imposes obligations on certain covered entity healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses as well as their business associates that perform certain services involving the use or disclosure of individually identifiable health information, including mandatory contractual terms, with respect to safeguarding the privacy, security and transmission of individually identifiable health information;

 

•

some state laws that require pharmaceutical companies to comply with the pharmaceutical industry’s voluntary compliance guidelines and the relevant compliance guidance promulgated by the federal government and may require drug manufacturers to report information related to payments and other transfers of value to physicians and other healthcare providers or marketing expenditures; and

 

•

state and foreign laws that govern the privacy and security of health information in certain circumstances, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and often are not preempted by HIPAA, thus complicating compliance efforts.

 

Analogous state and foreign laws and regulations, such as state anti-kickback and false claims laws, may apply to sales or marketing arrangements and claims involving healthcare items or services reimbursed by non-governmental third-party payors, including private insurers.

 

Efforts to ensure that our business arrangements with third parties will comply with applicable healthcare laws and regulations will involve substantial costs. It is possible that governmental authorities will conclude that

 

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our business practices may not comply with current or future statutes, regulations or case law involving applicable fraud and abuse or other healthcare laws and regulations. If our operations are found to be in violation of any of these laws or any other governmental regulations that may apply to us, we may be subject to significant civil, criminal and administrative penalties, damages, fines, disgorgement, imprisonment, exclusion of our products from government funded healthcare programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, additional reporting requirements and oversight if we become subject to a corporate integrity agreement or similar agreement to resolve allegations of non-compliance with these laws, reputational harm, and the curtailment or restructuring of our operations. In addition, if any of the physicians or other healthcare providers or entities with whom we expect to do business is found to be not in compliance with applicable laws, they may be subject to criminal, civil or administrative sanctions, including exclusions from government funded healthcare programs.

 

Current and future legislation may increase the difficulty and cost for us to obtain marketing approval of and commercialize our product candidates and affect the prices we may obtain.

 

In the United States and some foreign jurisdictions, there have been a number of legislative and regulatory changes and proposed changes regarding the healthcare system that could prevent or delay marketing approval of our product candidates, restrict or regulate post-approval activities and affect our ability to profitably sell any product candidates for which we obtain marketing approval.

 

In the United States, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, or the MMA, changed the way Medicare covers and pays for pharmaceutical products. The legislation expanded Medicare coverage for drug purchases by the elderly and certain disabled people by establishing the Medicare Part D Program and introduced a reimbursement methodology based on average sales prices for physician-administered drugs. In addition, this law provided authority for Medicare Part D plans to limit the number of drugs covered in any therapeutic class. Cost reduction initiatives and other provisions of this law and future laws could decrease the coverage and price that we will receive for any approved products. While the MMA only applies to drug benefits for Medicare beneficiaries, private payors often follow Medicare coverage policy and payment limitations in setting their own payment rates. Therefore, any limitations in reimbursement that results from the MMA may result in reductions in payments from private payors.

 

In March 2010, the ACA became law. The ACA is a sweeping law intended to broaden access to health insurance, reduce or constrain the growth of healthcare spending, enhance remedies against fraud and abuse, add new transparency requirements for the healthcare and health insurance industries, impose new taxes and fees on the health industry and impose additional health policy reforms. Among the provisions of the ACA of importance to our potential product candidates are the following:

 

•

an annual, nondeductible fee on any entity that manufactures or imports specified branded prescription drugs and biologic products;

 

•

an increase in the statutory minimum rebates a manufacturer must pay under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program;

 

•

expansion of healthcare fraud and abuse laws, including the civil False Claims Act and the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, new government investigative powers, and enhanced penalties for noncompliance;

 

•

a new Medicare Part D coverage gap discount program, in which manufacturers must agree to offer 50% point-of-sale discounts off negotiated prices;

 

•

extension of manufacturers’ Medicaid rebate liability;

 

•

expansion of eligibility criteria for Medicaid programs;

 

•

expansion of the entities eligible for discounts under the Public Health Service Act’s pharmaceutical pricing program;

 

•

new requirements to report financial arrangements with physicians and teaching hospitals;

 

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•

a new requirement to annually report drug samples that manufacturers and distributors provide to physicians; and

 

•

a new Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to oversee, identify priorities in, and conduct comparative clinical effectiveness research, along with funding for such research.

 

The current administration supports a repeal of the ACA and an Executive Order has been signed commanding federal agencies to try to waive or delay requirements of the ACA that impose economic or regulatory burdens on states, families, the health-care industry and others. The Executive Order also declares that the administration will seek the “prompt repeal” of the law and that the government should prepare to “afford the States more flexibility and control to create a more free and open healthcare market.” In addition, following the passage of the budget resolution for fiscal year 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation known as the American Health Care Act, which, if enacted, would have amended or repealed significant portions of the ACA. More recently, the Senate Republicans introduced and then updated a bill to replace the ACA known as the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017. The Senate Republicans also introduced legislation to repeal the ACA without companion legislation to replace it, and a “skinny” version of the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017. Each of these measures was rejected by the full Senate. Congress will likely consider other legislation to replace elements of the ACA. At this time, we cannot know how any legislation that may be passed to amend or replace the ACA will impact our business in the United States.

 

In addition, other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted since the ACA was enacted. These new laws may result in additional reductions in Medicare and other healthcare funding. For example, as a result of the Budget Control Act of 2011, providers are subject to Medicare payment reductions of 2% per fiscal year through 2025 unless additional Congressional action is taken. In addition, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 reduced Medicare payments to several providers and increased the statute of limitations period for the government to recover overpayments from providers from three to five years. Further, there has been heightened governmental scrutiny over the manner in which manufacturers set prices for their marketed products, which have resulted in several recent Congressional inquiries and proposed federal and state legislation designed to, among other things, bring more transparency to product pricing, contain the cost of drugs, review the relationship between pricing and manufacturer patient programs, and reform government program reimbursement methodologies for products.

 

We expect that the ACA, as well as other healthcare reform measures that may be adopted in the future, may result in more rigorous coverage criteria and in additional downward pressure on the price that we will receive for any approved product. Any reduction in payments from Medicare or other government programs may result in a similar reduction in payments from private payors. The implementation of cost containment measures or other healthcare reforms may prevent us from being able to generate revenue, attain profitability, or commercialize any of our products for which we receive marketing approval.

 

Legislative and regulatory proposals have been made to expand post-approval requirements and restrict sales and promotional activities for pharmaceutical products. We cannot be sure whether additional legislative changes will be enacted, or whether the FDA regulations, guidance or interpretations will be changed or what the impact of such changes on the marketing approvals, if any, of our product candidates, may be. In addition, increased scrutiny by the U.S. Congress of the FDA’s approval process may significantly delay or prevent marketing approval, as well as subject us to more stringent product labeling and post-marketing conditions and other requirements.

 

Our future growth may depend, in part, on our ability to penetrate foreign markets, where we would be subject to additional regulatory burdens and other risks and uncertainties.

 

Our future profitability may depend, in part, on our ability to commercialize our product candidates in foreign markets. In order to market and sell our products in the European Union and many other jurisdictions, we or our third-party collaborators must obtain separate marketing approvals and comply with numerous and varying

 

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regulatory requirements. The approval procedure varies among countries and economic areas and can involve additional testing. The time required to obtain approval may differ substantially from that required to obtain FDA approval. The marketing approval process outside the United States generally includes all of the risks associated with obtaining FDA approval. In addition, in many countries outside the United States, it is required that the product be approved for reimbursement before the product can be approved for sale in that country. We or these third parties may not obtain approvals from regulatory authorities outside the United States on a timely basis, if at all. Approval by the FDA does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other countries or jurisdictions, and approval by one regulatory authority outside the United States does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other countries or jurisdictions or by the FDA. Additionally, a failure or delay in obtaining marketing approval in one jurisdiction may have a negative effect on the marketing approval process in others. Approval procedures vary among jurisdictions and can involve requirements and administrative review periods different from, and greater than, those in the United States, including additional preclinical studies or clinical trials. Obtaining foreign marketing approvals and compliance with foreign regulatory requirements could result in significant delays, difficulties and costs for us and could delay or prevent the introduction of our products in certain countries. If we fail to comply with the regulatory requirements in international markets or receive applicable marketing approvals, our target market will be reduced and our ability to realize the full market potential of our product candidates will be harmed.

 

We may not be able to file for marketing approvals and may not receive necessary approvals to commercialize our products in any market. If we obtain approval of our product candidates and ultimately commercialize our product candidates in foreign markets, we would be subject to additional risks and uncertainties, including:

 

•

our customers’ ability to obtain reimbursement for our product candidates in foreign markets;

 

•

our inability to directly control commercial activities because we are relying on third parties;

 

•

the burden of complying with complex and changing foreign regulatory, tax, accounting and legal requirements;

 

•

different medical practices and customs in foreign countries affecting acceptance in the marketplace;

 

•

import or export licensing requirements;

 

•

longer accounts receivable collection times;

 

•

longer lead times for shipping;

 

•

language barriers for technical training;

 

•

reduced or no protection on pharmaceutical products or their use in some foreign countries;

 

•

the unwillingness of courts in some foreign jurisdictions to enforce patents even when valid and infringed in that country;

 

•

the possibility of pre-grant or post-grant review proceedings in certain foreign countries that allow a petitioner to hold up patent rights for an extended period or permanently by challenging the patent filing at the patent office of that country;

 

•

the possibility of a compulsory license issued by a foreign country that allows a third-party entity or a government to manufacture, use or sell our products with a government-set low royalty to us;

 

•

the existence of additional potentially relevant third-party intellectual property rights;

 

•

foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations;

 

•

an increase in restrictions on trade or other protectionist measures; and

 

•

the interpretation of contractual provisions governed by foreign laws in the event of a contract dispute.

 

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Foreign sales of our product candidates could also be adversely affected by the imposition of governmental controls, political and economic instability, trade restrictions and changes in tariffs.

 

Governments outside the United States tend to impose strict price controls, which may adversely affect our revenues, if any.

 

In some countries, particularly the countries of the European Union, the pricing of prescription pharmaceuticals is subject to governmental control. In these countries, pricing negotiations with governmental authorities can take considerable time after the receipt of marketing approval for a product. To obtain reimbursement or pricing approval in some countries, we may be required to conduct a clinical trial that compares the cost-effectiveness of our product candidate to other available therapies. If reimbursement of our products is unavailable or limited in scope or amount, or if pricing is set at unsatisfactory levels, our financial results would suffer.

 

If we fail to comply with environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, we could become subject to fines or penalties or incur costs that could harm our business.

 

We are subject to numerous environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, including those governing laboratory procedures and the handling, use, storage, treatment and disposal of hazardous materials and wastes. Our operations involve the use of hazardous and flammable materials, including chemicals and biological materials. Our operations also produce hazardous waste products. We generally contract with third parties for the disposal of these materials and wastes. We cannot eliminate the risk of contamination or injury from these materials. In the event of contamination or injury resulting from our use of hazardous materials, we could be held liable for any resulting damages, and the amount of the liability could exceed our resources. We also could incur significant costs associated with civil or criminal fines and penalties for failure to comply with such laws and regulations.

 

Although we maintain workers’ compensation insurance to cover us for costs and expenses we may incur due to injuries to our employees resulting from the use of hazardous materials, this insurance may not provide adequate coverage against other potential liabilities. We do not maintain insurance for environmental liability or toxic tort claims that may be asserted against us in connection with our storage or disposal of biological, hazardous or radioactive materials.

 

In addition, we may incur substantial costs in order to comply with current or future environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. These current or future laws and regulations may impair our discovery, preclinical development or production efforts. Our failure to comply with these laws and regulations also may result in substantial fines, penalties or other sanctions.

 

Risks Related to Our Dependence on Third Parties

 

We rely on, and expect to continue to rely on, third parties to conduct our clinical trials for our product candidates. If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties, comply with regulatory requirements or meet expected deadlines, we may not be able to obtain marketing approval for or commercialize our product candidates, and our business could be substantially harmed.

 

We do not have the ability to independently conduct clinical trials. We rely on medical institutions, clinical investigators, contract laboratories and other third parties, such as CROs, to conduct or otherwise support clinical trials for our product candidates. We expect to rely heavily on these parties for performance of clinical trials for our product candidates. Nevertheless, we will be responsible for ensuring that each of our clinical trials is conducted in accordance with the applicable protocol, legal and regulatory requirements and scientific standards.

 

We, our investigators, and our CROs will be required to comply with regulations, including good clinical practice, or GCP, and other related requirements for conducting, monitoring, recording and reporting the results

 

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of clinical trials to ensure that the data and results are scientifically credible and accurate, and that the trial patients are adequately informed of the potential risks of participating in clinical trials and their rights are protected. These regulations are enforced by the FDA, the Competent Authorities of the Member States of the European Economic Area and comparable foreign regulatory authorities for any drugs in clinical development. The FDA enforces GCPs through periodic inspections of clinical trial sponsors, principal investigators and trial sites. If we, our investigators or our CROs fail to comply with applicable GCPs, the clinical data generated in our clinical trials may be called into question and the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may require us to perform additional clinical trials before considering our marketing applications for approval. We cannot assure you that, upon inspection, the FDA will determine that any of our future clinical trials will comply with GCPs.

 

In addition, our clinical trials must be conducted with product candidates produced under cGMPs. Our failure or the failure of our investigators or CROs to comply with these requirements may require us to repeat clinical trials, which would delay the marketing approval process and could also subject us to enforcement action. We also are required to register certain clinical trials and post the results of such completed clinical trials involving product candidates for which we receive marketing approval on a government-sponsored database, ClinicalTrials.gov, within certain timeframes. Failure to do so can result in fines, adverse publicity and civil and criminal sanctions.

 

Although we intend to design the clinical trials for our product candidates, CROs will administer all of the clinical trials. As a result, many important aspects of our development programs, including their conduct and timing, will be outside of our direct control. Our reliance on third parties to conduct future clinical trials will also result in less direct control over the management of data developed through clinical trials than would be the case if we were relying entirely upon our own staff. Communicating with outside parties can also be challenging, potentially leading to mistakes as well as difficulties in coordinating activities. Outside parties may:

 

•

have staffing difficulties;

 

•

fail to comply with contractual obligations;

 

•

experience regulatory compliance issues;

 

•

undergo changes in priorities or become financially distressed;

 

•

make errors in the design, management or retention of our data or data systems; or

 

•

form relationships with other entities, some of which may be our competitors.

 

These factors may adversely affect the willingness or ability of third parties to conduct our clinical trials and may subject us to unexpected cost increases that are beyond our control. If the CROs do not perform clinical trials in a satisfactory manner, breach their obligations to us or fail to comply with regulatory requirements, the development, marketing approval and commercialization of our product candidates may be delayed, we may not be able to obtain marketing approval and commercialize our product candidates, or our development program may be irreversibly harmed. If we are unable to rely on clinical data collected by our CROs, we could be required to repeat, extend the duration of, or increase the size of any clinical trials we conduct and this could significantly delay commercialization and require significantly greater expenditures.

 

If any of our relationships with these third-party CROs terminate, we may not be able to enter into arrangements with alternative CROs. If CROs do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or obligations or meet expected deadlines, if they need to be replaced or if the quality or accuracy of the clinical data they obtain is compromised due to the failure to adhere to our clinical protocols, regulatory requirements or for other reasons, any clinical trials such CROs are associated with may be extended, delayed or terminated and we may not be able to obtain marketing approval for or successfully commercialize our product candidates. As a result, we believe that our financial results and the commercial prospects for our product candidates in the subject indication would be harmed, our costs could increase and our ability to generate revenue could be delayed.

 

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We contract with third parties for the manufacture and shipment of our product candidates for preclinical studies and clinical trials and expect to continue to do so for commercialization. This reliance on third parties increases the risk that we will not have sufficient quantities of our product candidates or drugs or such quantities at an acceptable cost, which could delay, prevent or impair our development or commercialization efforts.

 

We do not currently own or operate, nor do we have any plans to establish in the future, any manufacturing facilities or personnel. We rely, and expect to continue to rely, on third parties for the manufacture and shipment of our product candidates for preclinical studies and clinical trials, as well as for the commercial manufacture of our drugs if any of our product candidates receive marketing approval. This reliance on third parties increases the risk that we will not have sufficient quantities of our product candidates or drugs or such quantities at an acceptable cost or quality, which could delay, prevent or impair our development or commercialization efforts.

 

The facilities used to manufacture our product candidates must be evaluated by the FDA pursuant to inspections that will be conducted after we submit our marketing applications to the FDA to ensure compliance with cGMP. We do not control the manufacturing and shipment process of, and will be completely dependent on, our contract manufacturers for compliance with cGMPs in connection with the manufacture and shipment of our product candidates. If our contract manufacturers cannot successfully manufacture and ship material that conforms to our specifications and the regulatory requirements of the FDA or others, we will not be able to use the products produced at their manufacturing facilities. In addition, we have no control over the ability of our contract manufacturers to maintain adequate quality control, quality assurance and qualified personnel. If the FDA or a comparable foreign regulatory authority finds that these facilities do not comply with cGMP, we may need to find alternative manufacturing facilities, which would significantly impact our ability to develop, obtain marketing approval for or market our product candidates, if approved. Further, our failure, or the failure of our third-party manufacturers, to comply with these or other applicable regulations could result in sanctions being imposed on us, including clinical holds, fines, injunctions, civil penalties, delays, suspension or withdrawal of approvals, license revocation, seizures or recalls of product candidates or drugs, if approved, operating restrictions and criminal prosecutions.

 

We may be unable to establish any agreements with third-party manufacturers or do so on acceptable terms. Even if we are able to establish agreements with third-party manufacturers, reliance on third-party manufacturers entails additional risks, including:

 

•

reliance on the third party for regulatory compliance and quality assurance;

 

•

the possible breach of the manufacturing agreement by the third party;

 

•

the possible misappropriation of our proprietary information, including our trade secrets and know-how; and

 

•

the possible termination or nonrenewal of the agreement by the third party at a time that is costly or inconvenient for us.

 

Our product candidates and any other drugs that we may develop may compete with other product candidates and approved drugs for access to manufacturing facilities. There are a limited number of manufacturers that operate under cGMP regulations and that might be capable of manufacturing for us.

 

Any performance failure on the part of our existing or future manufacturers could delay clinical development or marketing approval. If our current contract manufacturers cannot perform as agreed, we may be required to replace such manufacturers. Although we believe that there are several potential alternative manufacturers who could manufacture our product candidates, we may incur added costs and delays in identifying and qualifying any such replacement.

 

Our current and anticipated future dependence upon others for the manufacture and shipment of our product candidates or drugs may adversely affect our future profit margins and our ability to commercialize any drugs that receive marketing approval on a timely and competitive basis.

 

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We, or our third-party manufacturers, may be unable to successfully scale-up manufacturing of our product candidates in sufficient quality and quantity, which would delay or prevent us from developing our product candidates and commercializing approved products, if any.

 

In order to conduct large-scale clinical trials of our product candidates, we will need to manufacture them in large quantities. We, or any of our manufacturing partners, may be unable to successfully increase the manufacturing capacity for any of our product candidates in a timely or cost-effective manner, or at all. In addition, quality issues may arise during scale-up activities. If we, or any manufacturing partners, are unable to successfully scale up the manufacture of our product candidates in sufficient quality and quantity, the development, testing, and clinical trials of that product candidate may be delayed or infeasible, and regulatory approval or commercial launch of any resulting product may be delayed or not obtained, which could significantly harm our business.

 

The third parties upon which we rely for the supply of the active pharmaceutical ingredients, formulations, and drug products are our sole sources of supply and have limited capacity, and the loss of any of these suppliers could harm our business.

 

The API, formulations and drug products for our product candidates are supplied to us from single-source suppliers with limited capacity. Our ability to successfully develop our product candidates, and to ultimately supply our commercial drugs in quantities sufficient to meet the market demand, depends in part on our ability to obtain the API, formulations and drug products in accordance with cGMP requirements and in sufficient quantities for commercialization and clinical trials. We do not currently have arrangements in place for a redundant or second-source supply of any such API, formulation or drug product in the event any of our current suppliers cease their operations for any reason.

 

We do not know whether our suppliers will be able to meet our demand, either because of the nature of our agreements with those suppliers, our limited experience with those suppliers or our relative importance as a customer to those suppliers. It may be difficult for us to assess their ability to timely meet our demand in the future based on past performance. While our suppliers have generally met our demand for their products on a timely basis in the past, they may subordinate our needs in the future to their other customers.

 

For all of our product candidates, we intend to identify and qualify additional manufacturers to provide API, formulations and drug products prior to submission of an NDA to the FDA or an MAA to the EMA. Establishing additional or replacement suppliers for the API, formulations and drug products for our product candidates, if required, may not be accomplished quickly. If we are able to find a replacement supplier, such replacement supplier would need to be qualified, or we may have to perform comparative studies comparing the drug product from a new manufacturer to the product used in any completed clinical trials. All of this may require additional marketing approval, which could result in further delay. While we seek to maintain adequate inventory of the API, formulations and drug products for our product candidates, any interruption or delay in the supply of components or materials, or our inability to obtain such API, formulation and drug product from alternate sources at acceptable prices in a timely manner could impede, delay, limit or prevent our development efforts.

 

We have entered into, and may in the future enter into, collaborations with third parties to discover or develop product candidates. If these collaborations are not successful, our business could be adversely affected.

 

We have entered into a research, collaboration and license agreement with Cardiff University and University College Cardiff Consultants Ltd., or Cardiff Consultants, for the design, synthesis, characterization and evaluation of ProTides, with the results of such research assigned to us and other intellectual property of Cardiff University and Cardiff Consultants exclusively licensed to us for use for all purposes related to selected ProTides and the nucleoside family of the selected ProTides. We are significantly reliant on this collaboration for the generation of additional potential product candidates and on the scientists employed by Cardiff University and

 

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Cardiff Consultants to perform such research. We have limited control over the amount and timing of resources that our collaborators dedicate to the development of ProTides and our ability to generate potential additional ProTides from these arrangements will depend on our and our collaborators’ abilities to successfully perform the functions assigned to each of us in these arrangements. In addition, our collaborators have the ability to abandon research or development projects and terminate applicable agreements. If we breach any of our obligations under this agreement, Cardiff University and Cardiff Consultants may have the right to terminate the agreement, which would result in a significant reduction in our ability to develop additional ProTides, and in our being unable to develop, manufacture and sell products that are covered by the licensed intellectual property, or in a competitor’s gaining access to the licensed intellectual property. Our agreement will expire at the end of 2017. Although we anticipate extending the agreement beyond its expiration, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in doing so. Any expiration of this agreement could also result in a significant reduction in our ability to develop additional ProTides.

 

We may potentially enter into additional collaborations with third parties in the future. Our collaboration with Cardiff University and Cardiff Consultants, and any future collaborations we enter into in the future, may pose several risks, including the following:

 

•

collaborators have significant discretion in determining the efforts and resources that they will apply to these collaborations;

 

•

collaborators may not perform their obligations as expected;

 

•

the clinical trials conducted as part of, or as a result of, these collaborations may not be successful;

 

•

collaborators may not pursue development or commercialization of any product candidates that achieve regulatory approval or may elect not to continue or renew development or commercialization programs based on clinical trial results, changes in the collaborators’ strategic focus or available funding or external factors, such as an acquisition, that divert resources or create competing priorities;

 

•

collaborators may delay clinical trials, provide insufficient funding for clinical trials, stop a clinical trial or abandon a product candidate, repeat or conduct new clinical trials or require a new formulation of a product candidate for clinical testing;

 

•

we may not have access to, or may be restricted from disclosing, certain information regarding product candidates being developed or commercialized under a collaboration and, consequently, may have limited ability to inform our shareholders about the status of such product candidates;

 

•

collaborators could independently develop, or develop with third parties, products that compete directly or indirectly with our product candidates if the collaborators believe that competitive products are more likely to be successfully developed or can be commercialized under terms that are more economically attractive than ours;

 

•

product candidates developed in collaboration with us may be viewed by our collaborators as competitive with their own product candidates or products, which may cause collaborators to cease to devote resources to the commercialization of our product candidates;

 

•

a collaborator with marketing and distribution rights to one or more of our product candidates that achieve regulatory approval may not commit sufficient resources to the marketing and distribution of any such product candidate;

 

•

disagreements with collaborators, including disagreements over proprietary rights, contract interpretation or the preferred course of development of any product candidates, may cause delays or termination of the research, development or commercialization of such product candidates, may lead to additional responsibilities for us with respect to such product candidates or may result in litigation or arbitration, any of which would be time-consuming and expensive;

 

•

collaborators may not properly maintain or defend our intellectual property rights or may use our proprietary information in such a way as to invite litigation that could jeopardize or invalidate our intellectual property or proprietary information or expose us to potential litigation;

 

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•

disputes may arise with respect to the ownership of intellectual property developed pursuant to our collaborations;

 

•

collaborators may infringe the intellectual property rights of third parties, which may expose us to litigation and potential liability; and

 

•

collaborations may be terminated for the convenience of the collaborator and, if terminated, we could be required to raise additional capital to pursue further development or commercialization of the applicable product candidates.

 

If our collaborations do not result in the successful development and commercialization of products, or if one of our collaborators terminates its agreement with us, we may not receive any future research funding or milestone or royalty payments under the collaboration. If we do not receive the funding we expect under these agreements, our development of product candidates could be delayed and we may need additional resources to develop our product candidates. In addition, if one of our collaborators terminates its agreement with us, we may find it more difficult to attract new collaborators and the perception of us in the business and financial communities could be adversely affected. All of the risks relating to product development, regulatory approval and commercialization described in this prospectus also apply to the activities of our collaborators.

 

We may in the future decide to collaborate with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and other organizations for the development and potential commercialization of our product candidates. These relationships, or those like them, may require us to incur non-recurring and other charges, increase our near- and long-term expenditures, issue securities that dilute our existing shareholders or disrupt our management and business. In addition, we could face significant competition in seeking appropriate collaborators and the negotiation process is time-consuming and complex. Our ability to reach a definitive collaboration agreement will depend, among other things, upon our assessment of the collaborator’s resources and expertise and the terms and conditions of the proposed collaboration. If we license rights to product candidates, we may not be able to realize the benefit of such transactions if we are unable to successfully integrate them with our existing operations and strategy.

 

If we fail to comply with our obligations under our license and collaboration agreement with Cardiff ProTides Ltd., we could lose rights to licensed and assigned intellectual property that are necessary for developing and commercializing Acelarin and other potential product candidates.

 

We entered into an exclusive, worldwide assignment, license and collaboration agreement with Cardiff ProTides Ltd., or Cardiff ProTides, for certain of the patents related to Acelarin and other potential ProTides. This agreement imposes various development, commercialization, royalty payment, diligence and other obligations on us. Among other obligations, we are specifically required to: pay Cardiff ProTides potential milestone payments; pay Cardiff ProTides royalties equal to mid- to high-single digit percentages of sales of such products, including sales by sublicensees; use commercially reasonable efforts to bring products to market; provide development and financial reports to Cardiff ProTides; file, prosecute, defend and maintain patent rights; indemnify Cardiff ProTides against certain claims and maintain insurance coverage; and direct future medicinal chemistry work related to certain compounds to Cardiff ProTides on a preferential basis.

 

If we breach any of these obligations, Cardiff ProTides may have the right to terminate the license and require us to assign back to Cardiff ProTides the intellectual property which was assigned to us under this agreement, which would result in our being unable to develop, manufacture and sell products that are covered by the licensed intellectual property or the assigned intellectual property, including Acelarin, or in a competitor’s gaining access to the licensed intellectual property or the assigned intellectual property.

 

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Risks Related to the Commercialization of Our Product Candidates

 

Even if any of our product candidates receives marketing approval, it may fail to achieve the degree of market acceptance by physicians, patients, third-party payors and others in the medical community necessary for commercial success.

 

If any of our product candidates receives marketing approval, it may nonetheless fail to gain sufficient market acceptance by physicians, patients, third-party payors and others in the medical community. If our product candidates do not achieve an adequate level of acceptance, we may not generate significant product revenues and we may not become profitable. The degree of market acceptance of our product candidates, if approved for commercial sale, will depend on a number of factors, including:

 

•

the timing of our receipt of any marketing approvals;

 

•

the terms of any approvals and the countries in which approvals are obtained;

 

•

the efficacy and safety and potential advantages and disadvantages compared to alternative treatments;

 

•

the prevalence and severity of any side effects associated with our products or with any product that is used in combination with our product;

 

•

the indications for which our products are approved;

 

•

adverse publicity about our products or favorable publicity about competing products;

 

•

the approval of other products for the same indications as our products;

 

•

our ability to offer our products for sale at competitive prices;

 

•

the convenience and ease of administration compared to alternative treatments;

 

•

the willingness of the target patient population to try new therapies and of physicians to prescribe these therapies;

 

•

the success of our physician education programs;

 

•

the strength of our marketing and distribution;

 

•

the availability of third-party coverage and adequate reimbursement, including patient cost-sharing programs such as copays and deductibles; and

 

•

any restrictions on the use of our products together with other medications.

 

We face substantial competition, which may result in others discovering, developing or commercializing competing products before or more successfully than we do.

 

The development and commercialization of new drug products is highly competitive. We face competition with respect to our current product candidates and will face competition with respect to any product candidates that we may seek to develop or commercialize in the future, from major pharmaceutical companies, specialty pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology companies worldwide. There are a number of large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies that currently market and sell products or are pursuing the development of products for the treatment of the disease indications for which we are developing our product candidates. Some of these competitive products and therapies are based on scientific approaches that are the same as, or similar to, our approach, and others are based on entirely different approaches. Potential competitors also include academic institutions, government agencies and other public and private research organizations that conduct research, seek patent protection and establish collaborative arrangements for research, development, manufacturing and commercialization.

 

Specifically, there are a large number of companies developing or marketing treatments for cancer, including many major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. If Acelarin is approved, it would compete

 

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with (a) existing chemotherapies, including gemcitabine, (b) existing targeted therapies or immunotherapies and, if approved, targeted therapies or immunotherapies in clinical trials for the treatment of patients with cancer and (c) multiple approved drugs or drugs that may be approved in the future for indications for which we may develop Acelarin. If NUC-3373 is approved, it would compete with (a) existing chemotherapies, including 5-FU, (b) existing targeted therapies or immunotherapies and, if approved, targeted therapies or immunotherapies in clinical trials for the treatment of patients with cancer and (c) multiple approved drugs or drugs that may be approved in the future for indications for which we may develop NUC-3373. If NUC-7738 is approved, it would compete with existing chemotherapies and multiple approved drugs or drugs that may be approved in the future for indications for which we may develop NUC-7738. Existing chemotherapies with which we may compete, including gemcitabine and 5-FU, are no longer under patent and are produced by numerous generic pharmaceutical manufacturers. As a result, these chemotherapies are and will continue to be substantially less expensive to patients than many other potential therapies, including our ProTide candidates, if approved.

 

Our commercial opportunity could be reduced or eliminated if our competitors develop and commercialize products that are safer, more effective, more convenient or less expensive or have fewer or less severe side effects than any products that we may develop. Our competitors also may obtain FDA or other marketing approval for their products more rapidly than we may obtain approval for ours, which could result in our competitors establishing a strong market position before we are able to enter the market or slow our marketing approval. Some of the important competitive factors affecting the success of all of our product candidates, if approved, are likely to be their efficacy, safety, convenience, price and the availability of reimbursement from government and other third-party payors.

 

Many of the companies against which we are competing or against which we may compete in the future have significantly greater financial resources and expertise in research and development, manufacturing, preclinical studies, conducting clinical trials, obtaining marketing approvals and marketing approved products than we do. Mergers and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries may result in even more resources being concentrated among a smaller number of our competitors. Smaller and early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large and established companies. These third parties compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel and in establishing clinical trial sites and patient registration for clinical trials, as well as in acquiring technologies complementary to, or necessary for, our programs.

 

Even if we are able to commercialize any product candidates, such drugs may become subject to unfavorable pricing regulations or third-party coverage and reimbursement policies.

 

The regulations that govern marketing approvals, pricing and reimbursement for new drugs vary widely from country to country. Some countries require approval of the sale price of a drug before it can be marketed. In many countries, the pricing review period begins after marketing approval is granted. In some foreign markets, prescription pharmaceutical pricing remains subject to continuing governmental control even after initial approval is granted. As a result, we might obtain marketing approval for a product candidate in a particular country but then be subject to price regulations that delay our commercial launch of the product candidate, possibly for lengthy time periods, and negatively impact the revenues we are able to generate from the sale of the product candidate in that country. Adverse pricing limitations may hinder our ability to recoup our investment in one or more product candidates, even if our product candidates obtain marketing approval.

 

Our ability to commercialize any product candidates, if approved, successfully will depend in part on the extent to which coverage and adequate reimbursement for these product candidates and related treatments will be available from government authorities, private health insurers and other organizations. In the United States, the principal decisions about coverage and reimbursement for new medicines under Medicare are made by CMS, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Private payors ultimately determine which drugs they will cover and the amount of reimbursement they will provide for a covered drug. While there is no uniform system among payors for making coverage and reimbursement decisions, private payors tend to follow

 

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CMS to a substantial degree. It is difficult to predict what CMS will decide with respect to reimbursement. Reimbursement agencies in Europe may be more conservative than CMS. For example, a number of cancer drugs are generally covered and paid for in the United States, but have not been approved for reimbursement in certain European countries. A primary trend in the U.S. healthcare industry and elsewhere is cost containment. Government authorities and third-party payors have attempted to control costs by limiting coverage and the amount of payments for particular drugs. Increasingly, third-party payors are requiring that drug companies provide them with predetermined discounts from list prices and are challenging the prices charged for drugs. We may also need to conduct expensive pharmacoeconomic studies, in addition to the costly studies required to obtain FDA or other comparable regulatory approvals, in order to demonstrate the medical necessity and cost-effectiveness of the product in order to secure coverage and reimbursement. We cannot be sure that coverage will be available for any product candidate that we commercialize and, if coverage is available, the level of payments. Reimbursement may impact the demand for, or the price of, any product candidate for which we obtain marketing approval. If reimbursement is not available or is available only to limited levels, we may not be able to successfully commercialize any product candidate for which we obtain marketing approval.

 

In addition to CMS and private payors, professional organizations such as the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the American Society of Clinical Oncology can influence decisions about reimbursement for new medicines by determining standards of care. In addition, many private payors contract with commercial vendors who sell software that provide guidelines that attempt to limit utilization of, and therefore reimbursement for, certain products deemed to provide limited benefit to existing alternatives. Such organizations may set guidelines that limit reimbursement or utilization of our products.

 

There may be significant delays in obtaining reimbursement for newly approved drugs, and coverage may be more limited than the purposes for which the drug is approved by the FDA or similar regulatory authorities outside the United States. Moreover, eligibility for reimbursement does not imply that any drug will be paid for in all cases or at a rate that covers our costs, including research, development, manufacture, sale and distribution. Interim reimbursement levels for new drugs, if applicable, may also not be sufficient to cover our costs and may not be made permanent. Reimbursement rates may vary according to the use of the drug and the clinical setting in which it is used, may be based on reimbursement levels already set for lower cost drugs and may be incorporated into existing payments for other services. Net prices for drugs may be reduced by mandatory discounts or rebates required by government healthcare programs or private payors and by any future relaxation of laws that presently restrict imports of drugs from countries where they may be sold at lower prices than in the United States. Our inability to promptly obtain coverage and profitable payment rates from both government-funded and private payors for any approved drugs that we develop could compromise our operating results, our ability to raise capital needed to commercialize drugs and our overall financial condition.

 

We currently have no marketing capability or sales force. If we are unable to establish effective sales or marketing capabilities or enter into agreements with third parties to sell or market our product candidates, we may not be able to effectively sell or market our product candidates, if approved, or generate product revenues.

 

We currently have no marketing capability or sales force, but we plan to commercialize any product candidates for which we receive regulatory marketing approval using a specialized sales force in the United States and Europe. To achieve commercial success for any approved product candidate for which we retain sales and marketing responsibilities, we must build our sales, marketing, managerial and other non-technical capabilities or make arrangements with third parties to perform these services. There are risks involved with both establishing our own sales and marketing capabilities and entering into arrangements with third parties to perform these services. For example, recruiting and training a sales force is expensive and time consuming and could delay any drug launch. If the commercial launch of a product candidate for which we recruit a sales force and establish marketing capabilities is delayed or does not occur for any reason, we would have prematurely or unnecessarily incurred these commercialization expenses. This may be costly, and our investment would be lost if we cannot retain or reposition our sales and marketing personnel.

 

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Factors that may inhibit our efforts to commercialize our product candidates on our own include:

 

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our inability to recruit and retain adequate numbers of effective sales and marketing personnel;

 

•

the inability of sales personnel to obtain access to physicians or persuade adequate numbers of physicians to prescribe any future drugs;

 

•

the lack of complementary drugs to be offered by sales personnel, which may put us at a competitive disadvantage relative to companies with more extensive product lines; and

 

•

unforeseen costs and expenses associated with creating an independent sales and marketing organization.

 

If we enter into arrangements with third parties to perform sales, marketing and distribution services, our drug revenues or the profitability of these drug revenues to us are likely to be lower than if we were to market and sell any product candidates that we develop ourselves. In addition, we may not be successful in entering into arrangements with third parties to sell and market our product candidates or may be unable to do so when needed or on terms that are favorable to us. We likely will have little control over such third parties, and any of them may fail to devote the necessary resources and attention to sell and market our product candidates effectively. If we do not establish sales and marketing capabilities successfully, either on our own or in collaboration with third parties, we will not be successful in commercializing our product candidates that receive marketing approval or any such commercialization may experience delays or limitations.

 

Product liability lawsuits against us could cause us to incur substantial liabilities and to limit commercialization of any products that we may develop.

 

We face an inherent risk of product liability exposure related to the evaluation of our product candidates in human clinical trials and will face an even greater risk if we commercially sell any products that we may develop. If we cannot successfully defend ourselves against claims that our product candidates or products caused injuries, we will incur substantial liabilities. Regardless of merit or eventual outcome, liability claims may result in:

 

•

decreased demand for any product candidates or products that we may develop;

 

•

injury to our reputation and significant negative media attention;

 

•

withdrawal of clinical trial participants;

 

•

significant costs to defend the related litigation;

 

•

substantial monetary awards to trial participants or patients;

 

•

loss of revenue;

 

•

reduced resources of our management to pursue our business strategy; and

 

•

the inability to successfully commercialize any products that we may develop.

 

Our product liability insurance may not be adequate to cover all liabilities that we may incur. We may need to increase our insurance coverage as we expand our clinical trials or if we commence commercialization of our product candidates. Insurance coverage is increasingly expensive. We may not be able to maintain insurance coverage at a reasonable cost or in an amount adequate to satisfy any liability that may arise.

 

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Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property

 

If we are unable to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for our technology and products, or if the scope of the intellectual property protection obtained is not sufficiently broad, our competitors could commercialize technology and products similar or identical to ours, and our ability to successfully commercialize our technology and products may be impaired. In addition, if we infringe the valid patent rights of others, we may be prevented from making, using or selling our products or may be subject to damages or penalties.

 

Our success depends in large part on our ability to obtain and maintain patents in the United States and other countries that adequately protect our proprietary technology and products. We seek to protect our proprietary position by filing patent applications in the United States and in foreign countries that cover our novel product candidates and their uses, pharmaceutical formulations and dosages, and processes for the manufacture of them. Our patent portfolio currently includes both patents and patent applications.

 

The patent prosecution process is expensive and time-consuming. We may not be able to file and prosecute all necessary or desirable patent applications at a reasonable cost or in a timely manner. We may choose not to seek patent protection for certain innovations and may choose not to pursue patent protection in certain jurisdictions. Under the laws of certain jurisdictions, patents or other intellectual property rights may be unavailable or limited in scope. It is also possible that we will fail to identify patentable aspects of our research and development before it is too late to obtain patent protection.

 

We currently solely own or exclusively license our patents and patent applications and we have the right to control the prosecution of the in-licensed patent applications. In the future, we may choose to in-license additional patents or patent applications from third parties that we conclude are useful or necessary for our business goals. We may not have the right to control the preparation, filing, prosecution or maintenance of such patent applications. Therefore, if we do license additional patents or patent applications in the future, these patents and applications may not be prosecuted and enforced in a manner consistent with the best interests of our business.

 

The patent position of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies generally is highly uncertain, involves complex legal and factual questions and has in recent years been the subject of much litigation. Publications of discoveries in the scientific literature often lag behind the actual discoveries, and patent applications in the United States and other jurisdictions are typically not published until 18 months after filing, or, in some cases, not at all. Therefore, we cannot know with certainty whether we were the first to make the inventions claimed in our owned or licensed patents or pending patent applications, or that we were the first to file for patent protection of such inventions. As a result, the issuance, scope, validity, enforceability and commercial value of our patent rights are highly uncertain. Our pending and future patent applications may not result in patents being issued which protect our technology or products, in whole or in part, or which effectively prevent others from commercializing competitive technologies and products. Changes in either the patent laws or interpretation of the patent laws in the United States and other countries may diminish the value of our patents or narrow the scope of our patent protection.

 

Recent patent reform legislation could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our patent applications and the enforcement or defense of our issued patents. On September 16, 2011, the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, or the Leahy-Smith Act, was signed into law. The Leahy-Smith Act includes a number of significant changes to U.S. patent law. These include provisions that affect the way patent applications are prosecuted and may also affect patent litigation. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, recently developed new regulations and procedures to govern administration of the Leahy-Smith Act, and many of the substantive changes to patent law associated with the Leahy-Smith Act, and in particular, the first to file provisions, became effective on March 16, 2013. The Leahy-Smith Act also created certain new administrative adversarial proceedings, discussed below. It is not clear what, if any, impact the Leahy-Smith Act will have on the operation of our business. However, the Leahy-Smith Act and its implementation could increase the

 

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uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our patent applications and the enforcement or defense of our issued patents.

 

The U.S. Supreme Court has issued opinions in patent cases in the last few years that many consider may weaken patent protection in the United States, either by narrowing the scope of patent protection available in certain circumstances, holding that certain kinds of innovations are not patentable or generally otherwise making it easier to invalidate patents in court. Additionally, there have been recent proposals for additional changes to the patent laws of the United States and other countries that, if adopted, could impact our ability to obtain patent protection for our proprietary technology or our ability to enforce our proprietary technology. Depending on future actions by the U.S. Congress, the U.S. courts, the USPTO and the relevant law-making bodies in other countries, the laws and regulations governing patents could change in unpredictable ways that would weaken our ability to obtain new patents or to enforce our existing patents and patents that we might obtain in the future.

 

Even if our patent applications issue as patents, they may not issue in a form that will provide us with any meaningful protection, prevent competitors from competing with us or otherwise provide us with any competitive advantage. Our competitors may be able to circumvent our owned or licensed patents by developing similar or alternative technologies or products in a non-infringing manner.

 

The issuance of a patent is not conclusive as to its inventorship, scope, validity or enforceability, and our owned and licensed patents may be challenged in the courts or patent offices in the United States and in other countries. Such challenges may result in loss of exclusivity or in patent claims being narrowed, invalidated or held unenforceable, in whole or in part, which could limit our ability to stop others from using or commercializing similar or identical technology and products, or limit the duration of the patent protection of our technology and products. In particular, third parties, such as generics companies, may seek to develop or acquire intellectual property rights proximate to our patents, including with respect to formulation and process matters, and may be able to do so in a non-infringing manner. Additionally, given the amount of time required for the development, testing and regulatory review of new product candidates, patents protecting such candidates might expire before or shortly after such candidates are commercialized. As a result, our owned and licensed patent portfolio may not provide us with sufficient rights to exclude others from commercializing products similar or identical to ours. Likewise, a court could uphold and enforce a third-party patent that it rules we have infringed, which would subject us to damages or prevent us from making, using or selling our products.

 

During patent prosecution in the United States and in most foreign countries, a third party can submit prior art or arguments to the reviewing patent office to attempt to prevent the issuance of a competitor’s patent. For example, our pending patent applications may be subject to a third-party preissuance submission of prior art to the USPTO or an Observation in Europe. Such submission may convince the receiving patent office not to issue the patent. In addition, if the breadth or strength of protection provided by our patents and patent applications is reduced by such third-party submission, it could affect the value of our resulting patent or dissuade companies from collaborating with us to license, develop or commercialize current or future product candidates. We may also seek to have issued patents re-issued for purposes of strengthening our patent position; however, such requests for reissuance may not result in the issuance of the new patent and could result in loss of the originally issued patent.

 

The risks described here pertaining to our patents and other intellectual property rights also apply to any intellectual property rights that we currently license or may license in the future. In some cases we may not have control over the prosecution, maintenance or enforcement of the patents that we license, and our licensors may fail to take the steps that we believe are necessary or desirable in order to obtain, maintain and enforce the licensed patents.

 

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We may become involved in administrative adversarial proceedings in the USPTO or in the patent offices of foreign countries brought by a third party to attempt to cancel or invalidate our patent rights, which could be expensive, time consuming and cause a loss of patent rights.

 

The Leahy-Smith Act created for the first time new procedures to challenge issued patents in the United States, including post-grant review and inter partes review proceedings, which some third parties have been using to cause the cancellation of selected or all claims of issued patents of competitors. For a patent with a priority date of March 16, 2013 or later, a petition for post-grant review can be filed by a third party in a nine-month window from issuance of the patent. A petition for inter partes review can be filed immediately following the issuance of a patent if the patent was filed prior to March 16, 2013. A petition for inter partes review can be filed after the nine-month period for filing a post-grant review petition has expired for a patent with a priority date of March 16, 2013 or later. Post-grant review proceedings can be brought on any ground of challenge, whereas inter partes review proceedings can only be brought to raise a challenge based on published prior art. These administrative adversarial actions at the USPTO review patent claims without the presumption of validity afforded to U.S. patents in lawsuits in U.S. federal courts, use a lower burden of proof than used by U.S. federal courts and interpret patent claims using a “broadest reasonable construction” instead of “plain and ordinary meaning,” which is used in court litigation. Because of these differences between U.S. administrative and judicial adversarial patent proceedings, it is generally considered easier for a competitor or third party to have a U.S. patent cancelled in a patent office post-grant review or inter partes review proceeding than invalidated in a litigation in a U.S. federal court. If any of our patents are challenged by a third party in such a U.S. patent office proceeding, there is no guarantee that we will be successful in defending the patent, which would result in a loss of the challenged patent right to us.

 

Opposition or invalidation procedures are also available in most foreign countries. Many foreign authorities, such as the authorities at the European Patent Office, have only post-grant opposition proceedings. However, certain countries, such as India, have both pre-grant and post-grant opposition proceedings. These procedures have been used frequently against pharmaceutical patents in foreign countries. For example, in some foreign countries, these procedures are used by generic companies to hold up an innovator’s patent rights as a means to allow the generic company to enter the market. This activity is particularly prevalent in India, China and South America and may become more prevalent in Africa and other parts of Asia as certain countries reach more established economies. If any of our patents are challenged in a foreign opposition or invalidation proceeding, we could face significant costs to defend our patents and may not be successful. Further, in many foreign jurisdictions, the losing party must pay the attorneys’ fees of the winning party, which can be substantial.

 

We may have to file one or more lawsuits in court to prevent a third party from selling a product or using a product in a manner that infringes our patent, which could be expensive, time consuming and unsuccessful, and ultimately result in the loss of our proprietary market.

 

Because competition in our industry is intense, competitors may infringe or otherwise violate our issued patents, patents of our licensors or other intellectual property. To counter infringement or unauthorized use, we may be required to file infringement lawsuits, which can be expensive and time consuming. Any claims we assert against perceived infringers could provoke these parties to assert counterclaims against us alleging that we infringe their patents. In addition, in a patent infringement proceeding, a court may decide that a patent of ours is invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, construe the patent’s claims narrowly or refuse to stop the other party from using the technology at issue on the grounds that our patents do not cover the technology in question. An adverse result in any litigation proceeding could put one or more of our patents at risk of being invalidated or interpreted narrowly. We may also elect to enter into license agreements in order to settle patent infringement claims or to resolve disputes prior to litigation, and any such license agreements may require us to pay royalties and other fees that could be significant. Furthermore, because of the substantial amount of discovery required in connection with intellectual property litigation, there is a risk that some of our confidential information could be compromised by disclosure.

 

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Because our ProTides are small molecules, after commercialization they will be subject to the patent litigation process of the Hatch-Waxman Act, which allows a generic company to submit an Abbreviated New Drug Application, or ANDA, to the FDA to obtain approval to sell our drug using bioequivalence data only. Under the Hatch-Waxman Act, since our candidates will be considered new chemical entities, we will have the opportunity to list all of our patents that cover our drug product or its method of use in the FDA’s compendium of “Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluation,” sometimes referred to as the FDA’s Orange Book. A generic company can submit an ANDA to the FDA four years after our drug approval. The submission of the ANDA by a generic company is considered a technical act of patent infringement. The generic company can certify that it will wait until the natural expiration date of our listed patents to sell a generic version of our product or can certify that one or more of our listed patents are invalid, unenforceable, or not infringed. If the latter, we will have 45 days to bring a patent infringement lawsuit against the generic company. This will initiate a challenge to one or more of our Orange Book-listed patents based on arguments from the generic company that either our patent is invalid, unenforceable or not infringed. Under the Hatch-Waxman Act, if a lawsuit is brought, the FDA is prevented from issuing a final approval on the generic drug until the earlier of seven-and-a-half years from our drug approval or a final decision of a court holding that our asserted patent claims are invalid, unenforceable or not infringed. If we do not properly list our relevant patents in the Orange Book, timely file a lawsuit in response to a certification from a generic company under an ANDA or prevail in the resulting patent litigation, we can lose our proprietary market, which can rapidly become generic. Further, even if we do correctly list our relevant patents in the Orange Book, bring a lawsuit in a timely manner and prevail in that lawsuit, it may be at a very significant cost to us of attorneys’ fees and employee time and distraction over a long period. Further, it is common for more than one generic company to try to sell an innovator drug at the same time, so we may be faced with the cost and distraction of multiple lawsuits. We may also determine it is necessary to settle the lawsuit in a manner that allows the generic company to enter our market prior to the expiration of our patent or otherwise in a manner that adversely affects the strength, validity or enforceability of our patent.

 

A number of pharmaceutical companies have been the subject of intense review by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, or FTC, or a corresponding agency in another country based on how they have conducted or settled drug patent litigation, and certain reviews have led to an allegation of an antitrust violation, sometimes resulting in a fine or loss of rights. We cannot be sure that we would not also be subject to such a review or that the result of the review would be favorable to us, which could result in a fine or penalty.

 

The FTC has brought a number of lawsuits in federal court in the past few years to challenge Hatch-Waxman ANDA litigation settlements between innovator companies and generic companies as anti-competitive. The FTC has taken an aggressive position that anything of value is a payment, whether money is paid or not. Under their approach, if an innovator as part of a patent settlement agrees not to launch or delay launch of an authorized generic during the 180-day period granted to the first generic company to challenge an Orange Book-listed patent covering an innovator drug, or negotiates a delay in entry without payment, the FTC may consider it an unacceptable reverse payment. The biopharmaceutical industry argues that such agreements are rational business decisions to dismiss risk and are immune from antitrust attack if the terms of the settlement are within the scope of the exclusionary potential of the patent. In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a five-to-three decision in FTC v. Actavis, Inc., rejected both the biopharmaceutical industry’s and FTC’s arguments with regard to so-called reverse payments, and held that whether a “reverse payment” settlement involving the exchange of consideration for a delay in entry is subject to an anticompetitive analysis depends on five considerations: (a) the potential for genuine adverse effects on competition; (b) the justification of payment; (c) the patentee’s ability to bring about anticompetitive harm; (d) whether the size of the payment is a workable surrogate for the patent’s weakness; and (e) that antitrust liability for large unjustified payments does not prevent litigating parties from settling their lawsuits, for example, by allowing the generic to enter the market before the patent expires without the patentee’s paying the generic. Furthermore, whether a reverse payment is justified depends upon its size, its scale in relation to the patentee’s anticipated future litigation costs, its independence from other services for which it might represent payment, as was the case in Actavis, and the lack of any other convincing justification. The Court held that reverse payment settlements can potentially violate antitrust laws and are subject to the

 

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standard antitrust rule-of-reason analysis, with the burden of proving that an agreement is unlawful on the FTC and leaving to lower courts the structuring of such rule of reason analysis. If we are faced with drug patent litigation, including Hatch-Waxman litigation with a generic company, we could be faced with such an FTC challenge based on that activity, including how or whether we settle the case, and even if we strongly disagree with the FTC’s position, we could face a significant expense or penalty.

 

Third parties may initiate legal proceedings alleging that we are infringing their intellectual property rights, the outcome of which would be uncertain and could hurt our business.

 

Our commercial success depends upon our ability to develop, manufacture, market and sell Acelarin, NUC-3373 and our other product candidates and use our proprietary technologies without infringing the proprietary rights of third parties. While our product candidates are in preclinical studies and clinical trials, we believe that the use of our product candidates in these preclinical studies and clinical trials falls within the scope of the exemptions provided by 35 U.S.C. Section 271(e) in the United States, which exempts from patent infringement liability activities reasonably related to the development and submission of information to the FDA. As Acelarin, NUC-3373 and our other product candidates progress toward commercialization, the possibility of a patent infringement claims against us increases. There can be no assurance that our product candidates do not infringe other parties’ patents or other proprietary rights, however, and competitors or other parties may assert that we infringe their proprietary rights in any event.

 

We may become party to, or threatened with, future adversarial proceedings or litigation regarding intellectual property rights covering our products and technology, including interference or derivation proceedings before the USPTO. Third parties may assert infringement claims against us based on existing patents or patents that may be granted in the future, including against our product candidates themselves, our formulation and manufacturing processes or our drug administration methods. In particular, because Acelarin and NUC-3373 are transformations of widely used approved chemotherapeutic agents, there is significant intellectual property held by third parties with respect to the formulation and manufacturing of those existing agents, which may increase the risk that such third parties allege infringement by us in the formulation and manufacture processes of our product candidates. Furthermore, if any of our future ProTides are transformations of an existing chemotherapeutic agent that remains on patent, we could be subject to claims of infringement by the holder of such patents.

 

If we are found to infringe a third party’s intellectual property rights, we could be required to obtain a license from such third party to continue developing and marketing our products and technology. However, we may not be able to obtain any required license on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Even if we were able to obtain a license, it could be non-exclusive, thereby giving our competitors access to the same technologies licensed to us. Alternatively, we may need to redesign infringing products, which may be impossible or require substantial time and monetary expenditure. Under certain circumstances, we could be forced, including by court order, to cease commercializing the infringing technology or product. In addition, we could be found liable for monetary damages, including treble damages and attorneys’ fees if we are found to have willfully infringed a patent. A finding of infringement could prevent us from commercializing our product candidates or force us to cease some of our business operations, which could harm our business. Claims that we have misappropriated the confidential information or trade secrets of third parties could have a similar negative impact on our business.

 

We may not be able to effectively enforce our intellectual property rights throughout the world.

 

We generally file our first patent application, or priority filing, at the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office. International applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, or PCT, are usually filed within 12 months after the priority filing. Based on the PCT filing, national and regional patent applications may be filed in additional jurisdictions where we believe our product candidates may be marketed or manufactured. Filing, prosecuting and defending patents on our product candidates in all countries throughout the world would be prohibitively expensive, and therefore we only file for patent protection in selected countries. The requirements

 

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for patentability may differ in certain countries, particularly in developing countries. Moreover, our ability to protect and enforce our intellectual property rights may be adversely affected by unforeseen changes in foreign intellectual property laws.

 

The laws of foreign countries may not protect our rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States. For example, Europe, India, China and certain other countries do not allow patents for methods of treating the human body. Many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in certain foreign jurisdictions that do not favor patent protection on drugs. This could make it difficult for us to stop the infringement of our patents or the misappropriation of our other intellectual property rights. Competitors may use our technologies in jurisdictions where we have not obtained patent protection to develop their own drugs and, further, may export otherwise infringing drugs to territories where we have patent protection, if our ability to enforce our patents to stop infringing activities is inadequate. These drugs may compete with our product candidates, and our patents or other intellectual property rights may not be effective or sufficient to prevent them from competing.

 

Proceedings to enforce our patent rights in foreign jurisdictions, whether or not successful, could result in substantial costs and divert our efforts and resources from other aspects of our business. Furthermore, while we intend to protect our intellectual property rights in the major markets for our product candidates, we cannot ensure that we will be able to initiate or maintain similar efforts in all jurisdictions in which we may wish to market our product candidates. Accordingly, our efforts to protect our intellectual property rights in such countries may be inadequate.

 

A number of foreign countries have stated that they are willing to issue compulsory licenses to patents held by innovator companies on approved drugs to allow the government or one or more third-party companies to sell the approved drug without the permission of the innovator patentee where the foreign government concludes it is in the public interest. India, for example, has used such a procedure to allow domestic companies to make and sell patented drugs without innovator approval. There is no guarantee that patents covering any of our drugs will not be subject to a compulsory license in a foreign country, or that we will have any influence over if or how such a compulsory license is granted. Further, Brazil allows its regulatory agency, ANVISA, to participate in deciding whether to grant a drug patent in Brazil, and patent grant decisions are made based on several factors, including whether the patent meets the requirements for a patent and whether such a patent is deemed in the country’s interest. In addition, several other countries have created laws that make it more difficult to enforce drug patents than patents on other kinds of technologies. Further, under the treaty on the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property, or TRIPS, as interpreted by the Doha Declaration, countries in which drugs are manufactured are required to allow exportation of the drug to a developing country that lacks adequate manufacturing capability. Therefore, our drug markets in the United States or foreign countries may be affected by the influence of current public policy on patent issuance, enforcement or involuntary licensing in the healthcare area.

 

In November 2015, members of the World Trade Organization, or the WTO, which administers TRIPS, voted to extend the exemption against enforcing pharmaceutical drug patents in least developed countries until 2033. We currently have no patent applications filed in least developed countries, and our current intent is not to file in these countries in the future, at least in part due to this WTO pharmaceutical patent exemption.

 

In addition, some countries have compulsory licensing laws under which a patent owner may be compelled to grant licenses to third parties. Further, some countries limit the enforceability of patents against government agencies or government contractors. In these countries, the patent owner may have limited remedies, which could materially diminish the value of such patent. If we or any of our licensors is forced to grant a license to third parties with respect to any patents relevant to our business, our competitive position may be impaired.

 

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Obtaining and maintaining our patent protection depends on compliance with various procedural, document submission, fee payment and other requirements imposed by governmental patent agencies, and our patent protection could be reduced or eliminated for non-compliance with these requirements.

 

Periodic maintenance fees, renewal fees, annuity fees and various other governmental fees on patents or applications will be due to be paid to the USPTO and various governmental patent agencies outside of the United States in several stages over the lifetime of the patents or applications. We have systems in place to remind us to pay these fees, and we employ an outside firm and rely on our outside counsel to pay these fees due to non-U.S. patent agencies. We employ reputable law firms and other professionals to help us comply, and in many cases, an inadvertent lapse can be cured by payment of a late fee or by other means in accordance with the applicable rules. However, there are situations in which non-compliance can result in abandonment or lapse of the patent or patent application, resulting in partial or complete loss of patent rights in the relevant jurisdiction. In such an event, our competitors might be able to enter the market, which could compromise our competitive position.

 

Intellectual property litigation could cause us to spend substantial resources and distract our personnel from their normal responsibilities.

 

Litigation or other legal proceedings relating to intellectual property claims, with or without merit, is unpredictable, generally expensive and time consuming and is likely to divert significant resources from our core business, including distracting our technical and management personnel from their normal responsibilities. Furthermore, because of the substantial amount of discovery required in connection with intellectual property litigation, there is a risk that some of our confidential information could be compromised by disclosure during this type of litigation. In addition, there could be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions or other interim proceedings or developments and, if securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have a substantial adverse effect on the price of our ADSs. Such litigation or proceedings could substantially increase our operating losses and reduce the resources available for development activities or any future sales, marketing or distribution activities.

 

We may not have sufficient financial or other resources to adequately conduct such litigation or proceedings. Some of our competitors may be able to sustain the costs of such litigation or proceedings more effectively than we can because of their greater financial resources and more mature and developed intellectual property portfolios. Accordingly, despite our efforts, we may not be able to prevent third parties from infringing upon, misappropriating or successfully challenging our intellectual property rights.

 

Our intellectual property licenses with third parties may be subject to disagreements over contract interpretation, which could narrow the scope of our rights to the relevant intellectual property or technology or increase our financial or other obligations to our licensors.

 

Our intellectual property licenses with third parties may be subject to disagreements over contract interpretation, which could narrow the scope of our rights to the relevant intellectual property or technology or increase our financial or other obligations to our licensors. The agreements under which we currently license intellectual property or technology from third parties are complex, and certain provisions in such agreements may be susceptible to multiple interpretations. The resolution of any contract interpretation disagreement that may arise could narrow what we believe to be the scope of our rights to the relevant intellectual property or technology, or increase what we believe to be our financial or other obligations under the relevant agreement.

 

If any of our licenses or material relationships or any in-licenses upon which our licenses are based are terminated or breached, we may:

 

•

lose our rights to develop and market our product candidates;

 

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lose patent protection for our product candidates;

 

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experience significant delays in the development or commercialization of our product candidates;

 

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•

not be able to obtain any other licenses on acceptable terms, if at all; or

 

•

incur liability for damages.

 

These risks apply to any agreements that we may enter into in the future for our current or any future product candidates. If we experience any of the foregoing, it could have a negative impact on our business, financial condition, results or operations and prospects.

 

If we fail to comply with our obligations in the agreements under which we license intellectual property rights from third parties or otherwise experience disruptions to our business relationships with our licensors, we could lose license rights that are important to our business.

 

We have entered into license agreements with third parties and may need to obtain additional licenses from one or more of these same third parties or from others to advance our research or allow commercialization of our product candidates. It is possible that we may be unable to obtain additional licenses at a reasonable cost or on reasonable terms, if at all. In that event, we may be required to expend significant time and resources to redesign our product candidates or the methods for manufacturing them or to develop or license replacement technology, all of which may not be feasible on a technical or commercial basis. If we are unable to do so, we may be unable to develop or commercialize our product candidates, which would harm our business. We cannot provide any assurances that third-party patents or other intellectual property rights do not exist which might be enforced against our current manufacturing methods, product candidates or future methods, resulting in either an injunction prohibiting our manufacture or sales, or, with respect to our sales, an obligation on our part to pay royalties or other forms of compensation to third parties.

 

It is possible that in any future license agreements, patent prosecution of our licensed technology may be controlled solely by the licensor, and we may be required to reimburse the licensor for their costs of patent prosecution. If our licensors fail to obtain and maintain patent or other protection for the proprietary intellectual property we license from them, we could lose our rights to the intellectual property or our exclusivity with respect to those rights, and our competitors could market competing products using the intellectual property. Disputes may arise regarding intellectual property subject to a licensing agreement, including:

 

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the scope of rights granted under the license agreement and other interpretation-related issues;

 

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the extent to which our technology and processes infringe on intellectual property of the licensor that is not subject to the licensing agreement;

 

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the sublicensing of patent and other rights under our collaborative development relationships;

 

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our diligence obligations under the license agreement and what activities satisfy those diligence obligations;

 

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the inventorship or ownership of inventions and know-how resulting from the joint creation or use of intellectual property by our licensors and us and our partners; and

 

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the priority of invention of patented technology.

 

If disputes over intellectual property that we have licensed prevent or impair our ability to maintain our current licensing arrangements on acceptable terms, we may be unable to successfully develop and commercialize our product candidates.

 

We may be subject to claims by third parties asserting that our employees or we have misappropriated their intellectual property, or claiming ownership of what we regard as our own intellectual property.

 

Many of our employees were previously employed at universities or other biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies, including our competitors or potential competitors. Although we try to ensure that our employees do

 

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not use the proprietary information or know-how of others in their work for us, we may be subject to claims that these employees or we have used or disclosed intellectual property, including trade secrets or other proprietary information, of any such employee’s former employer. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these claims.

 

In addition, while it is our policy to require our employees and contractors who may be involved in the development of intellectual property to execute agreements assigning such intellectual property to us, we may be unsuccessful in executing such an agreement with each party who in fact develops intellectual property that we regard as our own. Our and their assignment agreements may not be self-executing or may be breached, and we may be forced to bring claims against third parties, or defend claims they may bring against us, to determine the ownership of what we regard as our intellectual property.

 

If we fail in prosecuting or defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights or personnel. Even if we are successful in prosecuting or defending against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management.

 

If we are unable to protect the confidentiality of our trade secrets, our business and competitive position would be harmed.

 

In addition to seeking patents for some of our technology and product candidates, we also rely on trade secrets, including unpatented know-how, technology and other proprietary information, to maintain our competitive position. We seek to protect these trade secrets, in part, by entering into non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements with parties who have access to them, such as our employees, corporate collaborators, outside scientific collaborators, contract manufacturers, consultants, advisors and other third parties. We seek to protect our confidential proprietary information but enforcing a claim that a party illegally disclosed or misappropriated a trade secret is difficult, expensive and time-consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. In addition, some courts inside and outside the United States are less willing or unwilling to protect trade secrets. If any of our trade secrets were to be lawfully obtained or independently developed by a competitor, we would have no right to prevent them, or those to whom they communicate it, from using that technology or information to compete with us. If any of our trade secrets were to be disclosed to or independently developed by a competitor, our competitive position would be harmed.

 

Our proprietary information, or that of our suppliers and any future collaborators, may be lost or we may suffer security breaches.

 

In the ordinary course of our business, we collect and store sensitive data, including intellectual property, clinical trial data, proprietary business information, personally identifiable information of our employees and, potentially in the future, personally identifiable information of our clinical trial subjects, in our data centers and on our networks. The secure processing, maintenance and transmission of this information is critical to our operations. Despite our security measures, our information technology and infrastructure may be vulnerable to attacks by hackers or breached due to employee error, malfeasance or other disruptions. Although to our knowledge we have not experienced any such material security breach to date, any such breach could compromise our networks and the information stored there could be accessed, publicly disclosed, lost or stolen. Any such access, disclosure or other loss of information could result in legal claims or proceedings, liability under laws that protect the privacy of personal information, regulatory penalties, disrupt our operations, damage our reputation, and cause a loss of confidence in us and our ability to conduct clinical trials, which could adversely affect our reputation and delay the clinical development of our product candidates.

 

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Intellectual property rights do not necessarily address all potential threats to our competitive advantage.

 

The degree of future protection afforded by our intellectual property rights is uncertain because intellectual property rights have limitations, and may not adequately protect our business, or permit us to maintain our competitive advantage. The following examples are illustrative:

 

•

Others may be able to make, use or sell compounds that are similar to our product candidates but that are not covered by the claims of the patents that we own or have exclusively licensed.

 

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We, our licensors or strategic partners might not have been the first to make the inventions covered by the issued patent or pending patent application that we own or have exclusively licensed.

 

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We, our licensors or strategic partners, or future licensors or strategic partners, might not have been the first to file patent applications covering certain of our inventions.

 

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Others may independently develop similar or alternative technologies, or duplicate any of our technologies without infringing our intellectual property rights.

 

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It is possible that our pending patent applications will not lead to issued patents.

 

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Issued patents that we own or have exclusively licensed may not provide us with any competitive advantages, or may be held invalid or unenforceable as a result of legal challenges by our competitors.

 

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Our competitors might conduct research and development activities in countries where we do not have patent rights and then use the information learned from such activities to develop competitive products for sale in our major commercial markets.

 

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We may not develop additional proprietary technologies that are patentable.

 

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The patents of others may have an adverse effect on our business.

 

Risks Related to Employee Matters, Managing Growth and Other Risks Related to Our Business

 

We currently have a limited number of employees, and our future success depends on our ability to retain key executives and to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel.

 

We are a clinical-stage company, and, as of September 1, 2017, had 16 employees, including three executive officers. We are highly dependent on the research and development, clinical and business development expertise of Hugh S. Griffith, our Chief Executive Officer, as well as the other principal members of our management team and our collaborators’ scientific and clinical team. Although we have entered into employment agreements with our executive officers, each of them may at any time serve notice to terminate their employment with us. Other than for Mr. Griffith, we do not maintain “key person” insurance for any of our executives or other employees. In addition, we rely on consultants and advisors, including scientific and clinical advisors, to assist us in formulating our research and development and commercialization strategy. Our consultants and advisors may be employed by employers other than us and may have commitments under consulting or advisory contracts with other entities that may limit their availability to us. If we or our collaborators are unable to continue to attract and retain high quality personnel, our ability to pursue our growth strategy will be limited.

 

Recruiting and retaining qualified scientific, clinical, manufacturing, finance, sales and marketing personnel will also be critical to our success. The loss of the services of our executive officers or other key employees could impede the achievement of our research, development and commercialization objectives and seriously harm our ability to successfully implement our business strategy. Furthermore, replacing executive officers and key employees may be difficult and may take an extended period of time because of the limited number of individuals in our industry with the breadth of skills and experience required to successfully develop, obtain marketing approval of and commercialize products. Competition to hire from this limited pool is intense and we may be unable to hire, train, retain or motivate these key personnel on acceptable terms given the competition among numerous pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies for similar personnel. We also experience

 

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competition for the hiring of scientific and clinical personnel from universities and research institutions. Failure to succeed in clinical trials may make it more challenging to recruit and retain qualified scientific personnel. If we or our collaborators are unable to continue to attract and retain high quality personnel, our ability to pursue our growth strategy will be limited.

 

We expect to expand our development and regulatory capabilities and potentially implement sales, marketing and distribution capabilities, and as a result, we may encounter difficulties in managing our growth, which could disrupt our operations.

 

To manage our anticipated development and expansion, we must continue to implement and improve our managerial, operational and financial systems, expand our facilities and continue to recruit and train additional qualified personnel. Also, our management may need to divert a disproportionate amount of its attention away from its day-to-day activities and devote a substantial amount of time to managing these development activities. Due to our limited resources, we may not be able to effectively manage the expansion of our operations or recruit and train additional qualified personnel. This may result in weaknesses in our infrastructure, give rise to operational mistakes, loss of business opportunities, loss of employees and reduced productivity among remaining employees. The physical expansion of our operations may lead to significant costs and may divert financial resources from other projects, such as the development of our product candidates. If our management is unable to effectively manage our expected development and expansion, our expenses may increase more than expected, our ability to generate or increase our revenue could be reduced and we may not be able to implement our business strategy. Our future financial performance and our ability to commercialize our product candidates, if approved, and compete effectively will depend, in part, on our ability to effectively manage the future development and expansion of our company.

 

The United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union may have a negative effect on global economic conditions, financial markets and our business, which could reduce the price of our ADSs.

 

Following the BREXIT referendum held on June 23, 2016, the United Kingdom government served notice under Article 50 of the Treaty of the European Union on March 29, 2017 to formally initiate the process of withdrawing from the European Union. The United Kingdom and the European Union have a two-year period under Article 50 to negotiate the terms of withdrawal. Any extension of the negotiation period for withdrawal will require the consent of all of the remaining 27 member states.

 

The referendum and withdrawal have created significant uncertainty about the future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union Lack of clarity about future U.K. laws and regulations as the United Kingdom determines which E.U.-derived laws and regulations to replace or replicate as part of a withdrawal, including financial laws and regulations, tax and free trade agreements, intellectual property rights, supply chain logistics, environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, immigration laws and employment laws, could decrease foreign direct investment in the United Kingdom, increase costs, depress economic activity and restrict our access to capital. If the United Kingdom and the European Union are unable to negotiate acceptable terms for the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union, or if other E.U. member states pursue withdrawal from the European Union, barrier-free access between the United Kingdom and other E.U. member states or across the European Economic Area overall could be diminished or eliminated. In addition, the United Kingdom could lose the benefits of global trade agreements negotiated by the European Union on behalf of its members. These developments, or the perception that any of them could occur, have had and may continue to have a significant adverse effect on global economic conditions and the stability of global financial markets, and could significantly reduce global market liquidity and restrict the ability of key market participants to operate in certain financial markets. Asset valuations, currency exchange rates and credit ratings may be especially subject to increased market volatility. These developments, or the perception that any of them could occur, may also have a significant effect on our ability to attract and retain employees, including scientists and other employees who are important for our and our collaborators’ research and development efforts.

 

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If Scotland decides to secede from the United Kingdom, our business may be adversely affected.

 

A referendum on Scottish independence from the United Kingdom took place on September 18, 2014, the result of which was that Scotland remained part of the United Kingdom. There may in the future be a second referendum on Scottish independence from the United Kingdom. Any such referendum, even if it again ultimately resulted in Scotland remaining part of the United Kingdom, could lead to uncertainty and disrupt the markets in which we operate, and might cause us to lose potential customers, suppliers, collaborators and employees, including scientists and other key employees employed by us or our collaborators.

 

Unfavorable global economic conditions could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

Our results of operations could be adversely affected by general conditions in the global economy and in the global financial markets. The 2008 global financial crisis caused extreme volatility and disruptions in the capital and credit markets. A severe or prolonged economic downturn, such as resulted from the 2008 global financial crisis, could result in a variety of risks to our business, including our ability to raise additional capital when needed on acceptable terms, if at all. A weak or declining economy could also strain our suppliers, possibly resulting in supply disruption.

 

Our business and operations could suffer in the event of information technology and other internal infrastructure system failures.

 

Despite the implementation of security measures, our information technology and other internal infrastructure systems and those of our third-party CROs and other contractors and consultants, including corporate firewalls, servers, leased lines and connections to the Internet, are vulnerable to damage from computer viruses, unauthorized access, natural disasters, terrorism, war and telecommunication and electrical failures. Furthermore, we have little or no control over the security measures and computer systems of our third-party CROs and other contractors and consultants. While we have not experienced any such system failure, accident or security breach to date, if such an event were to occur and cause interruptions in our operations, it could result in a material disruption of our programs. For example, the loss of clinical trial data for our product candidates could result in delays in our marketing approval efforts and significantly increase our costs to recover or reproduce the data. To the extent that any disruption or security breach results in a loss of or damage to our data or applications or other data or applications relating to our technology or product candidates, or inappropriate disclosure of confidential or proprietary information, we could incur liabilities and the further development of our product candidates could be delayed.

 

Our employees, principal investigators, CROs and consultants may engage in misconduct or other improper activities, including non-compliance with regulatory standards and requirements and insider trading.

 

We are exposed to the risk that our employees, principal investigators, CROs and consultants may engage in fraudulent conduct or other illegal activity. Misconduct by these parties could include intentional, reckless or negligent conduct or disclosure of unauthorized activities to us that violate the regulations of the FDA and other regulatory authorities, including those laws requiring the reporting of true, complete and accurate information to such authorities; healthcare fraud and abuse laws and regulations in the United States and abroad; or laws that require the reporting of financial information or data accurately. In particular, sales, marketing and business arrangements in the healthcare industry are subject to extensive laws and regulations intended to prevent fraud, misconduct, kickbacks, self-dealing and other abusive practices. These laws and regulations may restrict or prohibit a wide range of pricing, discounting, marketing and promotion, sales commission, customer incentive programs and other business arrangements. Activities subject to these laws also involve the improper use of information obtained in the course of clinical trials or creating fraudulent data in our preclinical studies or clinical trials, which could result in regulatory sanctions and cause serious harm to our reputation. It is not always possible to identify and deter misconduct by employees and other third parties, and the precautions we take to

 

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detect and prevent this activity may not be effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses or in protecting us from governmental investigations or other actions or lawsuits stemming from a failure to comply with these laws or regulations. Additionally, we are subject to the risk that a person could allege such fraud or other misconduct, even if none occurred. If any such actions are instituted against us, and we are not successful in defending ourselves or asserting our rights, those actions could have a significant impact on our business, including the imposition of civil, criminal and administrative penalties, damages, monetary fines, disgorgement, possible exclusion from participation in Medicare, Medicaid and other federal healthcare programs, contractual damages, reputational harm, diminished profits and future earnings, additional reporting requirements and oversight if we become subject to a corporate integrity agreement to resolve allegations of non-compliance with these laws, and curtailment of our operations, any of which could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our results of operations.

 

We may expend our limited resources to pursue a particular product candidate and fail to capitalize on product candidates that may be more profitable or for which there is a greater likelihood of success.

 

Because we have limited financial and managerial resources, we focus on specific product candidates. As a result, we may forgo or delay pursuit of opportunities with other product candidates that later prove to have greater commercial potential. Our resource allocation decisions may cause us to fail to capitalize on viable commercial products or profitable market opportunities. Our spending on current and future research and development programs and product candidates for specific indications may not yield any commercially viable product candidates. If we do not accurately evaluate the commercial potential or target market for a particular product candidate, we may relinquish valuable rights to that product candidate through collaboration, licensing or other royalty arrangements in cases in which it would have been more advantageous for us to retain sole development and commercialization rights to such product candidate.

 

We may acquire businesses or drugs, or form strategic alliances in the future and we may not realize the benefits of such acquisitions.

 

We may acquire additional businesses or drugs, form strategic alliances or create joint ventures with third parties that we believe will complement or augment our existing business. If we acquire businesses with promising markets or technologies, we may not be able to realize the benefit of acquiring such businesses if we are unable to successfully integrate them with our existing operations and strategy. We may encounter numerous difficulties in developing, manufacturing and marketing any new drugs resulting from a strategic alliance or acquisition that delay or prevent us from realizing their expected benefits or enhancing our business. We cannot assure you that, following any such acquisition, we will achieve the expected synergies to justify the transaction.

 

We or the third parties upon which we depend may be adversely affected by natural disasters and our business continuity and disaster recovery plans may not adequately protect us from a serious disaster.

 

Natural disasters could severely disrupt our operations and hurt our financial condition. If a natural disaster, power outage or other event occurred that prevented us from using all or a significant portion of our headquarters, that damaged critical infrastructure, such as the manufacturing facilities of our third-party contract manufacturers, or that otherwise disrupted operations, it may be difficult or, in certain cases, impossible for us to continue our business for a substantial period of time. The disaster recovery and business continuity plans we have in place may prove inadequate in the event of a serious disaster or similar event. We may incur substantial expenses as a result of the limited nature of our disaster recovery and business continuity plans.

 

We are subject to certain U.K., U.S. and foreign anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, export control, sanctions, and other trade laws and regulations, violations of which can have a negative impact on our business.

 

We are subject to certain U.K., U.S. and foreign anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, export control, sanctions, and other trade laws and regulations. Among other matters, these laws and regulations prohibit

 

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companies and their employees, agents, clinical research organizations, legal counsel, accountants, consultants, contractors and other partners from authorizing, promising, offering, providing, soliciting or receiving, directly or indirectly, corrupt or improper payments or anything else of value to or from recipients in the public or private sector. Violations of these laws and regulations can result in substantial criminal fines and civil penalties, imprisonment, the loss of trade privileges, debarment, tax reassessments, breach of contract and fraud litigation, reputational harm and other consequences. We have direct or indirect interactions with officials and employees of government agencies or government-affiliated hospitals, universities and other organizations. We also expect our international activities to increase over time. We engage third parties to obtain necessary permits, licenses, patent registrations and other regulatory approvals. We can be held liable for the corrupt or other illegal activities of our personnel, agents or other partners, even if we do not explicitly authorize or have prior knowledge of such activities.

 

Risks Related to the ADSs and This Offering

 

The price of our ADSs may be volatile and may fluctuate due to factors beyond our control.

 

The trading market for publicly traded emerging biopharmaceutical and drug discovery and development companies has been highly volatile and is likely to remain highly volatile in the future. The market price of our ADSs may fluctuate significantly due to a variety of factors, including:

 

•

positive or negative results from, or delays in, testing and clinical trials by us, collaborators or competitors;

 

•

technological innovations or commercial product introductions by us or competitors;

 

•

changes in government regulations;

 

•

developments concerning proprietary rights, including patents and litigation matters;

 

•

public concern relating to the commercial value or safety of Acelarin, NUC-3373 or NUC-7738;

 

•

financing, collaborations or other corporate transactions;

 

•

publication of research reports or comments by securities or industry analysts;

 

•

general market conditions in the pharmaceutical industry or in the economy as a whole;

 

•

the loss of any of our key scientific or senior management personnel;

 

•

sales of our ADSs or ordinary shares by us, our senior management and board members, holders of our ADSs or our ordinary shares in the future; or

 

•

other events and factors, many of which are beyond our control.

 

These and other market and industry factors may cause the market price and demand for our ADSs to fluctuate substantially, regardless of our actual operating performance, which may limit or prevent investors from readily selling their ADSs and may otherwise negatively affect the liquidity of our ADSs. In addition, the stock market in general, and biopharmaceutical companies in particular, have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of these companies. In the past, when the market price of a stock has been volatile, holders of that stock have sometimes instituted securities class action litigation against the issuer. If any of the holders of our ADSs were to bring such a lawsuit against us, we could incur substantial costs defending the lawsuit and the attention of our senior management would be diverted from the operation of our business. Any adverse determination in litigation could also subject us to significant liabilities.

 

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We will incur increased costs as a result of operating as a public company in the United States, and our senior management will be required to devote substantial time to new compliance initiatives and corporate governance practices.

 

As a public company, and particularly after we no longer qualify as an “emerging growth company”, or EGC, we will incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur previously. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the listing requirements of the Nasdaq Global Market, or Nasdaq, and other applicable securities rules and regulations impose various requirements on non-U.S. reporting public companies, including the establishment and maintenance of effective disclosure and financial controls and corporate governance practices. Our senior management and other personnel will need to devote a substantial amount of time to these compliance initiatives. Moreover, these rules and regulations will increase our legal and financial compliance costs and will make some activities more time-consuming and costly. For example, we expect that these rules and regulations may make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, which in turn could make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified senior management personnel or members for our board of directors.

 

However, these rules and regulations are often subject to varying interpretations, in many cases due to their lack of specificity, and, as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies. This could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices.

 

Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or Section 404, we will be required to furnish a report by our senior management on our internal control over financial reporting. However, while we remain an EGC we will not be required to include an attestation report on internal control over financial reporting issued by our independent registered public accounting firm. To prepare for eventual compliance with Section 404, once we no longer qualify as an EGC, we will be engaged in a process to document and evaluate our internal control over financial reporting, which is both costly and challenging. In this regard, we will need to continue to dedicate internal resources, potentially engage outside consultants, adopt a detailed work plan to assess and document the adequacy of internal control over financial reporting, continue steps to improve control processes as appropriate, validate through testing that controls are functioning as documented, and implement a continuous reporting and improvement process for internal control over financial reporting. Despite our efforts, there is a risk that we will not be able to conclude, within the prescribed timeframe or at all, that our internal control over financial reporting is effective as required by Section 404. If we identify one or more material weaknesses, it could result in an adverse reaction in the financial markets due to a loss of confidence in the reliability of our financial statements.

 

There has been no public market for our ADSs prior to this offering, and an active market may not develop in which investors can resell our ADSs.

 

Prior this offering, there has been no public market for our ADSs or our ordinary shares and, subsequent to this offering, there will continue not to be a public market for our ordinary shares. We cannot predict the extent to which an active market for our ADSs will develop or be sustained after this offering, or how the development of such a market might affect the market price for our ADSs. The initial public offering price of our ADSs in this offering will be agreed upon between us and the underwriters based on a number of factors, including market conditions in effect at the time of this offering, which may not be indicative of the price at which our ADSs will trade following completion of this offering. Investors may not be able to sell their ADSs at or above the initial public offering price.

 

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Certain of our existing shareholders, members of our board of directors and senior management will maintain the ability to exercise significant control over us. Your interests may conflict with the interests of these existing shareholders.

 

As of June 30, 2017, after giving effect to the closing of this offering, our senior management, board of directors and greater than 5% shareholders and their respective affiliates, in the aggregate, will own     % of our ordinary shares (including ordinary shares in the form of ADSs), assuming no exercise of outstanding options. Depending on the level of attendance at our general meetings of shareholders, these shareholders either alone or voting together as a group may be in a position to determine or significantly influence the outcome of decisions taken at any such general meeting. Any shareholder or group of shareholders controlling more than 50% of the share capital present and voting at our general meetings of shareholders may control any shareholder resolution requiring a simple majority, including the appointment of board members, certain decisions relating to our capital structure, the approval of certain significant corporate transactions and amendments to our Articles of Association. Among other consequences, this concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control and might therefore negatively affect the market price of our ADSs.

 

Future sales, or the possibility of future sales, of a substantial number of our ADSs or ordinary shares could adversely affect the price of our ADSs.

 

Future sales of a substantial number of our ADSs or ordinary shares, or the perception that such sales will occur, could cause a decline in the market price of our ADSs. Based upon the number of shares outstanding as of June 30, 2017, after giving effect to the closing of this offering, we will have              ordinary shares (including ordinary shares in the form of ADSs) outstanding, assuming no exercise of outstanding options. ADSs issued and sold in this offering may be resold in the public market immediately without restriction, unless purchased by our affiliates. A significant portion of these ADSs will be subject to the lock-up agreements described in “Shares and ADSs Eligible for Future Sale” and “Underwriting.” If, after the end of such lock-up agreements, these shareholders sell substantial amounts of ADSs in the public market, or the market perceives that such sales may occur, the market price of our ADSs and our ability to raise capital through an issue of equity securities in the future could be adversely affected. We have also entered into a registration rights agreement to be effective upon the completion of this offering and pursuant to which we have agreed under specified circumstances to file a registration statement to register the resale of the ordinary shares held by some of our existing shareholders, as well as to cooperate in specified public offerings of such shares.

 

If you purchase ADSs in this offering, you will suffer immediate dilution of your investment.

 

We expect the initial public offering price of our ADSs in this offering to be substantially higher than the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per ADS prior to this offering. Therefore, if you purchase ADSs in this offering, you will pay a price per ADSs, and per underlying ordinary share, that substantially exceeds our net tangible book value per ADS, and per underlying ordinary share, after this offering. To the extent outstanding options are exercised for ordinary shares, you may experience further dilution. Based on the assumed offering price of $             per ADS, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, you will experience immediate dilution of $             per ADS, representing the difference between our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per ADS after giving effect to this offering and the offering price. See “Dilution.”

 

Because we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our ADSs or ordinary shares in the foreseeable future, capital appreciation, if any, will be your sole source of potential gains and you may never receive a return on your investment.

 

Under current English law, a company’s accumulated realized profits must exceed its accumulated realized losses on a non-consolidated basis before dividends can be paid. Therefore, we must have distributable profits before issuing a dividend. We have not paid dividends in the past on our ordinary shares. We intend to retain earnings, if any, for use in our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

 

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As a result, capital appreciation, if any, on our ADSs or ordinary shares will be your sole source of potential gains for the foreseeable future, and you will suffer a loss on your investment if you are unable to sell your ADSs at or above the public offering price. Investors seeking cash dividends should not purchase our ADSs in this offering.

 

We have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds from this offering and may not use them effectively.

 

Our senior management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering and could spend the proceeds in ways that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the value of our ADSs. The failure by our senior management to apply these funds effectively could result in financial losses, cause the price of our ADSs to decline and delay the development of our product candidates. Pending their use, we may invest the net proceeds from this offering in a manner that does not produce income or that loses value.

 

Purchasers of our ADSs may not have the same voting rights as the holders of our ordinary shares and may not receive voting materials in time to be able to exercise their right to vote.

 

Except as described in this prospectus, holders of our ADSs will not be able to exercise voting rights attaching to the ordinary shares evidenced by our ADSs on an individual basis. Holders of our ADSs will appoint the depositary or its nominee as their representative to exercise the voting rights attaching to the ordinary shares in the form of ADSs in accordance with the deposit agreement. Purchasers of ADSs in this offering may not receive voting materials in time to instruct the depositary to vote, and it is possible that they, or persons who hold their ADSs through brokers, dealers or other third parties, will not have the opportunity to exercise a right to vote. In certain cases, the shares represented by your ADSs may be voted contrary to your instructions and you may be deemed to have instructed the depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person we designate to vote shares represented by your ADSs in such person’s discretion. Furthermore, the depositary will not be liable for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote, for the manner in which any vote is cast or for the effect of any such vote. As a result, purchasers of ADSs in this offering may not be able to exercise voting rights and may lack recourse if their ADSs are not voted as requested. In addition, in their capacity as ADS holders, purchasers of our ADSs will not be able to call a shareholders’ meeting.

 

Purchasers of our ADSs may not receive distributions on our ordinary shares in the form of ADSs or any value for them if it is illegal or impractical to make them available to holders of ADSs.

 

The depositary for our ADSs has agreed to pay to purchasers of our ADSs the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on our ordinary shares or other deposited securities after deducting its fees and expenses and certain taxes. Purchasers of our ADSs will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of our ordinary shares their ADSs represent. However, in accordance with the limitations set forth in the deposit agreement, it may be unlawful or impractical to make a distribution available to holders of ADSs. We have no obligation to take any other action to permit the distribution of our ADSs, ordinary shares, rights or anything else to holders of our ADSs. This means that purchasers of our ADSs may not receive the distributions we make on our ordinary shares or any value from them if it is unlawful or impractical to make them available to them. These restrictions may have a negative impact on the market value of our ADSs.

 

Purchasers of our ADSs may be subject to limitations on transfer of their ADSs.

 

ADSs are transferable on the books of the depositary. However, the depositary may close its transfer books at any time or from time to time when it deems expedient in connection with the performance of its duties. In addition, the depositary may refuse to deliver, transfer or register transfers of ADSs generally when our books or the books of the depositary are closed, or at any time if we or the depositary deems it advisable to do so because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body, or under any provision of the deposit agreement, or for any other reason in accordance with the terms of the deposit agreement.

 

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The rights of our shareholders may differ from the rights typically offered to shareholders of a U.S. corporation.

 

We are incorporated under English law. The rights of holders of ordinary shares and, therefore, certain of the rights of holders of ADSs, are governed by English law, including the provisions of the Companies Act 2006, and by our Articles of Association. These rights differ in certain respects from the rights of shareholders in typical U.S. corporations. See “Description of Share Capital—Differences in Corporate Law” in this prospectus for a description of the principal differences between the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to us and, for example, the Delaware General Corporation Law relating to shareholders’ rights and protections.

 

Shareholder protections found in provisions under the U.K. City Code on Takeovers and Mergers, or the Takeover Code, will not apply if our place of management and control is considered to change to outside the United Kingdom.

 

We are a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales and have our place of central management and control in the United Kingdom. Accordingly, we are currently subject to the Takeover Code and, as a result, our shareholders are entitled to the benefit of certain takeover offer protections provided under the Takeover Code. The Takeover Code provides a framework within which takeovers of companies are regulated and conducted. If, at the time of a takeover offer, the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers determines that we do not have our place of central management and control in the United Kingdom, then the Takeover Code would not apply to us and our shareholders would not be entitled to the benefit of the various protections that the Takeover Code affords. In particular, we would not be subject to the rules regarding mandatory takeover bids. The following is a brief summary of some of the most important rules of the Takeover Code:

 

•

When a person or group acquires interests in shares carrying 30% or more of the voting rights of a company (which percentage is treated by the Takeover Code as the level at which effective control is obtained), they must make a cash offer to all other shareholders at the highest price paid by them in the 12 months before the offer was announced.

 

•

When interests in shares carrying 10% or more of the voting rights of a class have been acquired by an offeror (i.e. a bidder) in the offer period and the previous 12 months, the offer must include a cash alternative for all shareholders of that class at the highest price paid by the offeror in that period. Further, if an offeror acquires for cash any interest in shares during the offer period, a cash alternative must be made available at a price at least equal to the price paid for such shares.

 

•

If the offeror acquires an interest in shares in an offeree company (i.e. a target) at a price higher than the value of the offer, the offer must be increased accordingly.

 

•

The offeree company must appoint a competent independent adviser whose advice on the financial terms of the offer must be made known to all the shareholders, together with the opinion of the board of directors of the offeree company.

 

•

Favorable deals for selected shareholders are banned.

 

•

All shareholders must be given the same information.

 

•

Those issuing takeover circulars must include statements taking responsibility for the contents.

 

•

Profit forecasts, quantified financial benefits statements and asset valuations must be made to specified standards and must be reported on by professional advisers.

 

•

Misleading, inaccurate or unsubstantiated statements made in documents or to the media must be publicly corrected immediately.

 

•

Actions during the course of an offer by the offeree company, which might frustrate the offer are generally prohibited unless shareholders approve these plans.

 

•

Stringent requirements are laid down for the disclosure of dealings in relevant securities during an offer.

 

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•

Employees of both the offeror and the offeree company and the trustees of the offeree company’s pension scheme must be informed about an offer. In addition, the offeree company’s employee representatives and pension scheme trustees have the right to have a separate opinion on the effects of the offer on employment appended to the offeree board of directors’ circular or published on a website.

 

Claims of U.S. civil liabilities may not be enforceable against us.

 

We are incorporated under English law. Substantially all of our assets are located outside the United States. The majority of our senior management and board of directors reside outside the United States. As a result, it may not be possible for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon such persons or to enforce judgments obtained in U.S. courts against them or us, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws.

 

The United States and the United Kingdom do not currently have a treaty providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments (other than arbitration awards) in civil and commercial matters. Consequently, a final judgment for payment given by a court in the United States, whether or not predicated solely upon U.S. securities laws, would not automatically be recognized or enforceable in England and Wales. In addition, uncertainty exists as to whether the English and Welsh courts would entertain original actions brought in England and Wales against us or our directors or senior management predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. Any final and conclusive monetary judgment for a definite sum obtained against us in U.S. courts would be treated by the courts of England and Wales as a cause of action in itself and sued upon as a debt so that no retrial of the issues would be necessary, provided that certain requirements are met consistent with English law and public policy. Whether these requirements are met in respect of a judgment based upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. securities laws is an issue for the English court making such decision. If an English court gives judgment for the sum payable under a U.S. judgment, the English judgment will be enforceable by methods generally available for this purpose.

 

As a result, U.S. investors may not be able to enforce against us or our senior management, board of directors or certain experts named herein who are residents of the United Kingdom or countries other than the United States any judgments obtained in U.S. courts in civil and commercial matters, including judgments under the U.S. federal securities laws.

 

We qualify as a foreign private issuer and, as a result, we will not be subject to U.S. proxy rules and will be subject to Exchange Act reporting obligations that, to some extent, are more lenient and less frequent than those of a U.S. domestic public company.

 

Upon the closing of this offering, we will report under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, as a non-U.S. company with foreign private issuer status. Because we qualify as a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act, we are exempt from certain provisions of the Exchange Act that are applicable to U.S. domestic public companies, including (i) the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act; (ii) the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their stock ownership and trading activities and liability for insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time; and (iii) the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing with the SEC of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q containing unaudited financial and other specified information, or current reports on Form 8-K upon the occurrence of specified significant events. In addition, foreign private issuers are not required to file their annual report on Form 20-F until 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, while U.S. domestic issuers that are accelerated filers are required to file their annual report on Form 10-K within 75 days after the end of each fiscal year. Foreign private issuers also are exempt from Regulation Fair Disclosure, aimed at preventing issuers from making selective disclosures of material information. As a result of the above, you may not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are not foreign private issuers.

 

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As a foreign private issuer, we are permitted to adopt certain home country practices in relation to corporate governance matters that differ significantly from Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards. These practices may afford less protection to shareholders than they would enjoy if we complied fully with Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards.

 

As a foreign private issuer listed on Nasdaq, we will be subject to corporate governance listing standards. However, Nasdaq rules permit a foreign private issuer like us to follow the corporate governance practices of its home country in lieu of certain Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards. Certain corporate governance practices in the United Kingdom, which is our home country, may differ significantly from Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards. For example, neither the corporate laws of the United Kingdom nor our Articles of Association require a majority of our directors to be independent; we could include non-independent directors as members of our nomination and remuneration committees; and our independent directors would not necessarily hold regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present. Therefore, our shareholders may be afforded less protection than they otherwise would have under Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards applicable to U.S. domestic issuers. See “Management—Foreign Private Issuer Exemption.”

 

We may lose our foreign private issuer status, which would then require us to comply with the Exchange Act’s domestic reporting regime and cause us to incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses.

 

As a foreign private issuer, we are not required to comply with all of the periodic disclosure and current reporting requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to U.S. domestic issuers. We may no longer be a foreign private issuer as of June 30, 2018 (the end of our second fiscal quarter in the fiscal year after this offering), which would require us to comply with all of the periodic disclosure and current reporting requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to U.S. domestic issuers as of January 1, 2019. In order to maintain our current status as a foreign private issuer, either (a) a majority of our voting securities must be either directly or indirectly owned of record by non-residents of the United States or (b)(i) a majority of our executive officers or directors cannot be U.S. citizens or residents, (ii) more than 50% of our assets must be located outside the United States and (iii) our business must be administered principally outside the United States. If we lose our status as a foreign private issuer, we would be required to comply with the Exchange Act reporting and other requirements applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, which are more detailed and extensive than the requirements for foreign private issuers. We may also be required to make changes in our corporate governance practices in accordance with various SEC and Nasdaq rules. The regulatory and compliance costs to us under U.S. securities laws if we are required to comply with the reporting requirements applicable to a U.S. domestic issuer may be significantly higher than the cost we would incur as a foreign private issuer. As a result, we expect that a loss of foreign private issuer status would increase our legal and financial compliance costs and would make some activities highly time consuming and costly. We also expect that if we were required to comply with the rules and regulations applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, it would make it more difficult and expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to accept reduced coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain coverage. These rules and regulations could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified members of our board of directors.

 

We are an “emerging growth company,” and we cannot be certain if the reduced reporting requirements applicable to “emerging growth companies” will make our ADSs less attractive to investors.

 

We are an EGC as defined in the JOBS Act. For as long as we continue to be an EGC, we may take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not EGCs, including not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404, exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. As an EGC, we are able to report only two years of financial results and selected financial data compared to three and five years, respectively, for comparable data reported by other public companies. We may take advantage of these exemptions until we are no longer an EGC. We could be an EGC for up to five years, although circumstances

 

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could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if the aggregate market value of our ADSs and ordinary shares held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of our second fiscal quarter before that time, in which case we would no longer be an EGC as of the following December 31st (the last day of our fiscal year). We cannot predict if investors will find our ADSs less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our ADSs less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our ADSs and the price of our ADSs may be more volatile.

 

If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud. As a result, shareholders could lose confidence in our financial and other public reporting, which would harm our business and the trading price of our ADSs.

 

Effective internal controls over financial reporting are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and, together with adequate disclosure controls and procedures, are designed to prevent fraud. Any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. In addition, any testing by us conducted in connection with Section 404, or any subsequent testing by our independent registered public accounting firm, may reveal deficiencies in our internal controls over financial reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses or that may require prospective or retroactive changes to our financial statements or identify other areas for further attention or improvement. Inadequate internal controls could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a negative effect on the trading price of our ADSs.

 

Management will be required to assess the effectiveness of our internal controls annually. However, for as long as we are an EGC under the JOBS Act, our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404. An independent assessment of the effectiveness of our internal controls could detect problems that our management’s assessment might not. Undetected material weaknesses in our internal controls could lead to financial statement restatements requiring us to incur the expense of remediation and could also result in an adverse reaction in the financial markets due to a loss of confidence in the reliability of our financial statements.

 

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research, or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research, about our business, the price of our ADSs and our trading volume could decline.

 

The trading market for our ADSs will depend in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. Securities and industry analysts do not currently, and may never, publish research on us. If no or too few securities or industry analysts commence coverage on us, the trading price for our ADSs would likely be negatively affected. In the event securities or industry analysts initiate coverage, if one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our ADSs or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the price of our ADSs would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of us or fail to publish reports on us regularly, demand for our ADSs could decrease, which might cause the price of our ADSs and trading volume to decline.

 

We may be classified as a passive foreign investment company, or a PFIC, in any taxable year and U.S. holders of our ADSs could be subject to adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences.

 

Generally, if for any taxable year, at least 75% of our gross income is passive income, or at least 50% of the value of our assets is attributable to assets that produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income, including cash, we would be characterized as a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The determination of whether we are a PFIC depends on the particular facts and circumstances (such as the valuation of our assets, including goodwill and other intangible assets, and the characterization of our income, including whether certain research and development tax credits received from the government of the United Kingdom will constitute gross income, and if they do, whether they will constitute

 

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passive income for purposes of the PFIC income test) and may also be affected by the application of the PFIC rules, which are subject to differing interpretations. Based on our estimated gross income, the average value of our assets, including goodwill and the nature of our active business, we do not expect to be treated as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes for the taxable year ending December 31, 2017.

 

If we are a PFIC, U.S. holders of our ADSs may be subject to adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences, such as the ineligibility for any preferred tax rates on capital gains or on actual or deemed dividends for individuals who are U.S. holders, having interest apply to distributions by us and the proceeds of sales of the ADSs, and additional reporting requirements under U.S. federal income tax laws and regulations. Investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding all aspects of the application of the PFIC rules to our ADSs. For more information related to classification as a PFIC, see “Taxation—Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consideration—Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations.”

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus contains estimates and forward-looking statements, principally in the sections titled “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Business.” Some of the matters discussed concerning our operations and financial performance include forward-looking statements and estimates within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect” and similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements and estimates. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:

 

•

the development of Acelarin, NUC-3373 and NUC-7738, including statements regarding the expected initiation, timing, progress and availability of data from our clinical trials;

 

•

the potential attributes and benefit of our ProTides and their competitive positions;

 

•

our ability to successfully commercialize our ProTides, if approved;

 

•

our expectations regarding the use of proceeds from this offering;

 

•

our estimates regarding expenses, capital requirements and our need for additional financing;

 

•

our ability to acquire or in-license new product candidates;

 

•

potential collaborations; and

 

•

the duration of our patent portfolio.

 

These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause our actual results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, performance, prospects, opportunities, achievements or industry results, as well as those of the markets we serve or intend to serve, to differ materially from those expressed in, or suggested by, these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results, financial condition, liquidity, performance, prospects, opportunities, achievements or industry results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, those discussed under “Risk Factors” in this prospectus. Additional risks that we may currently deem immaterial or that are not presently known to us could also cause the forward-looking events discussed in this prospectus not to occur. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions regarding our present and future business strategies and the environment in which we expect to operate in the future.

 

Forward-looking statements and estimates speak only at the date they were made, and we undertake no obligation to update or to review any forward-looking statement or estimate because of new information, future events or other factors. Forward-looking statements and estimates involve risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Our future results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements and estimates.

 

In light of the risks and uncertainties described above, the forward-looking statements and estimates discussed in this prospectus might not occur and our future results and our performance may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements and estimates due to, inclusive of, but not limited to, the factors mentioned above. Because of these uncertainties, you should not make any investment decision based on these forward-looking statements and estimates.

 

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EXCHANGE RATES

 

Fluctuations in the exchange rate between the pound sterling and the U.S. dollar will affect the U.S. dollar amounts received by owners of the ADSs on conversion of dividends, if any, paid in pound sterling on the ordinary shares and will affect the U.S. dollar price of the ADSs on Nasdaq. The table below shows the period end, average, high and low exchange rates of U.S. dollars per pound sterling for the periods shown. Average rates are computed by using the noon buying rate of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for the U.S. dollar on the last business day of each month during the relevant year indicated or each business day during the relevant month indicated. The rates set forth below are provided solely for your convenience and may differ from the actual rates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements included in this prospectus and other financial data appearing in this prospectus.

 

		Noon Buying Rate
		Period End				Average(1)				High				Low
		($ per £ 1.00)
Period:
2012			1.6262				1.5924				1.6275				1.5301
2013			1.6574				1.5668				1.6574				1.4837
2014			1.5578				1.6461				1.7165				1.5517
2015			1.4746				1.5250				1.2155				1.4800
2016			1.2337				1.3444				1.4648				1.5882
2017 (through August 25)			1.2873				1.2678				1.3018				1.2118
January 2017			1.2585				1.2355				1.2620				1.2118
February 2017			1.2427				1.2495				1.2643				1.2427
March 2017			1.2537				1.2347				1.2583				1.2152
April 2017			1.2938				1.2639				1.2938				1.2398
May 2017			1.2905				1.2929				1.3018				1.2795
June 2017			1.2995				1.2810				1.2995				1.2628
July 2017			1.3196				1.2996				1.3196				1.2851
August 2017 (through August 25)			1.2873				1.2958				1.3236				1.2787

 

(1)

The average of the noon buying rate for pounds sterling on the last day of each full month during the relevant year or each business day during the relevant month indicated.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We estimate that we will receive total estimated net proceeds from this offering of approximately $             million, assuming an initial public offering price per ADS of $            , which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

We intend to use the net proceeds we receive from this offering, together with our existing cash and cash equivalents, as follows:

 

•

approximately $             to $             million to further the development of Acelarin, including (i) completing an ongoing Phase 2 trial, completing a planned Phase 2 trial in combination with Avastin, and initiating a planned Phase 3 trial in combination with carboplatin, each in patients with ovarian cancer, (ii) completing an ongoing Phase 1b trial in combination with cisplatin and initiating a planned Phase 3 trial in combination with cisplatin, each in patients with biliary cancer, and (iii) funding the ongoing Phase III trial in pancreatic cancer that is being facilitated by The National Cancer Research Institute in the United Kingdom;

 

•

approximately $             to $             million to further the development of NUC-3373, including (i) completing a Phase 1 trial in patients with advanced solid tumors, (ii) completing a Phase 1b trial and initiating a Phase 3 trial, each in patients with colorectal cancer, and (iii) completing a Phase 2 trial in patients with breast cancer;

 

•

approximately $             to $             million to further the development of NUC-7738, including completing a Phase 1 trial in patients with solid tumors and a Phase 1 trial in patients with hematological malignancies; and

 

•

the remaining proceeds to fund other research and development activities, working capital and other general corporate purposes, including costs and expenses of being a public company.

 

Each $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price per ADS would increase or decrease our net proceeds, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, by approximately $             million, assuming that the number of ADSs offered by us remains the same. An increase or decrease of 1,000,000 ADSs from the expected number of ADSs to be sold in this offering, assuming no change in the assumed initial public offering price per ADS, would increase or decrease our net proceeds from this offering by $             million, after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

This expected use of the net proceeds from this offering and our existing cash and cash equivalents represents our intentions based upon our current plans and business conditions, which could change in the future as our plans and business conditions evolve. The amounts and timing of our actual expenditures may vary significantly depending on numerous factors, including the progress of our development and commercialization efforts, the status of and results from clinical trials, any collaborations that we may enter into with third parties for our product candidates and any unforeseen cash needs. Moreover, our estimates of the costs to fund our trials are based on the current designs of the trials. If we were to modify the design of any of these trials, for instance, to increase the number of patients in the trials, our costs to fund the trials could increase. As a result, our management will retain broad discretion over the allocation of the net proceeds from this offering.

 

Based on our planned use of the net proceeds of this offering and our current cash and cash equivalents, we estimate that such funds will be sufficient to enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through              . We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be incorrect, and we could use our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect.

 

Pending specific utilization of the net proceeds as described above, we intend to invest the net proceeds from this offering in short- and intermediate-term interest-bearing obligations and certificates of deposit.

 

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DIVIDENDS AND DIVIDEND POLICY

 

Since our incorporation, we have not declared or paid any dividends on any class of our issued share capital. We intend to retain any earnings for use in our business and do not currently intend to pay dividends on our ordinary shares. The declaration and payment of any future dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon our results of operations, cash requirements, financial condition, contractual restrictions, any future debt agreements or applicable laws and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

 

The following table presents our total capitalization and cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2017 on:

 

•

an actual basis;

 

•

a pro forma basis to give effect to the automatic conversion, immediately prior to the completion of this offering, of all issued series A convertible participating shares, series B convertible participating shares, founder ordinary 1 shares and founder ordinary 2 shares into ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis; and

 

•

a pro forma as adjusted basis to give further effect to the sale by us of              ADSs in this offering at an offering price of $             per ADS, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

You should read this table in conjunction with our unaudited consolidated financial statements, audited consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus and “Exchange Rate Information,” “Use of Proceeds,” “Selected Consolidated Financial Data” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

		As of June 30, 2017
		Actual				Pro Forma				Pro Forma as Adjusted(1)
		(unaudited)
						(in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents			£15,918				£15,918				£
Total equity attributable to equity holders:
Founder ordinary 1 shares, nominal value £0.01 per share, 4,000,000 shares issued and outstanding, actual; no shares issued and outstanding, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted		£	40			£	—			£
Founder ordinary 2 shares, nominal value £0.01 per share, 4,000,000 shares issued and outstanding, actual; no shares issued and outstanding, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted			40				—
Series A convertible participating shares, nominal value £0.01 per share, 29,933,331 shares issued and outstanding, actual; no shares issued and outstanding, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted			299				—
Series B convertible participating shares, nominal value £0.001 per share, 33,850,000 shares issued and outstanding, actual; no shares issued and outstanding, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted			34				—
Ordinary shares, nominal value £0.01 per share, 24,955,225 shares issued and outstanding, actual; 96,738,556 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma; and              shares issued and outstanding, pro forma as adjusted			250				967
Share premium			304				—
Share option reserve			4,938				4,938
Retained earnings(2)			15,825				15,825
Own share reserve			(339	)			(339	)
Foreign currency translation reserve			(4	)			(4	)
Total equity			21,387				21,387
Total capitalization		£	21,387			£	21,387			£

 

(1)

Each $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $         per ADS, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase or decrease the pro forma as adjusted amount of each of cash and cash equivalents, total equity and total capitalization by £              million, assuming the number of ADSs offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this

 

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prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. An increase or decrease of 1,000,000 in the number of ADSs offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase or decrease the pro forma as adjusted amount of each of cash and cash equivalents, total equity and total capitalization by £              million, assuming no change in the assumed initial public offering price per ADS and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

(2)

The retained earnings balance includes the impact of the reduction of our share premium account and corresponding increase to our retained earnings (accumulated deficit) account reflected as of June 30, 2017 in connection with our re-registration as a public limited company, as further described in footnote 10 to the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements.

 

The number of our ordinary shares to be outstanding immediately after this offering is based on 96,738,556 of our shares outstanding as of June 30, 2017, and gives effect to the automatic conversion, immediately prior to the completion of this offering, of all issued series A convertible participating shares, series B convertible participating shares, founder ordinary 1 shares and founder ordinary 2 shares into ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis.

 

The outstanding share information excludes:

 

•

13,055,760 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options under our equity compensation plans as of June 30, 2017 at a weighted average exercise price of £0.19 per share;

 

•

ordinary shares authorized for issuance pursuant to future awards under our equity incentive plans as of June 30, 2017; and

 

•

120,000 ordinary shares issued upon exercise of options under our equity incentive plans subsequent to June 30, 2017 at a weighted average exercise price of £1.00 per share.

 

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DILUTION

 

If you invest in the ADSs, your interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the initial public offering price per ADS and our pro forma net tangible book value per ADS after this offering. Our net tangible book value as of June 30, 2017 was £             million or £             per ordinary share, equivalent to $             per ordinary share and $             per ADS. Net tangible book value represents the amount of total assets minus intangible assets and total liabilities. Net tangible book value per share represents net tangible book value divided by the total number of ordinary shares outstanding.

 

After giving effect to the automatic conversion, immediately prior to the completion of this offering, of all issued series A convertible participating shares, series B convertible participating shares, founder ordinary 1 shares and founder ordinary 2 shares into ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis, our pro forma net tangible book value as of June 30, 2017 would have been £             per ordinary share, equivalent to $             per ordinary share and $             per ADS.

 

After giving further effect to the sale by us of                  ADSs in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $             per ADS, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value as of June 30, 2017 would have been £             per ordinary share, equivalent to $             per ordinary share and $             per ADS. This represents an immediate increase in pro forma net tangible book value of $             per ADS to existing shareholders and an immediate dilution in pro forma net tangible book value of $             per ADS to purchasers of ADSs in this offering. The following table presents this dilution to new investors purchasing ADSs in the offering:

 

Assumed initial public offering price per ADS						$
Net tangible book value per ADS as of June 30, 2017		$
Increase per ADS attributable to the pro forma adjustments described above
Pro forma net tangible book value per ADS as of June 30, 2017
Increase in pro forma net tangible book value per ADS attributable to this offering
Pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per ADS after this offering
Dilution per ADS to new investors in this offering						$

 

If the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full, the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per ADS after the offering would be $            , the increase in net tangible book value per ADS to existing shareholders would be $             and the immediate dilution in net tangible book value per ADS to new investors in this offering would be $            .

 

Each $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $             per ADS, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase or decrease the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value after this offering by $             per ADS and the dilution to new investors in this offering by $             per ADS, assuming the number of ADSs offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. An increase of 1,000,000 in the number of ADSs offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value after this offering by $             per ADS and decrease the dilution to new investors in this offering by $             per ADS, assuming no change in the assumed initial public offering price per ADS and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. A decrease of 1,000,000 in the number of ADSs offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would decrease the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value after this offering by $             per ADS and increase the dilution to new investors in this offering by $             per ADS, assuming no change in the assumed

 

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initial public offering price per ADS and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

The following table summarizes, on the pro forma as adjusted basis described above as of June 30, 2017, the differences between the existing shareholders and the new investors in this offering with respect to the number of ordinary shares purchased from us (including ordinary shares underlying ADSs), the total consideration paid to us and the average price per ordinary share (including ordinary shares underlying ADSs), based on an assumed initial public offering price of $             per ADS, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

		Ordinary Shares Purchased(1)								Total Consideration								Average Price per Ordinary Share(1)
		Number				%				Amount				%
Existing shareholders								%		$						%		$
New investors
Total							100	%		$					100	%

 

(1)

Including ordinary shares underlying ADSs.

 

Each $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $             per ADS, which is the midpoint of the price range on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase or decrease the total consideration paid by new investors by $             million and, in the case of an increase, would increase the percentage of total consideration paid by new investors by              percentage points and, in the case of a decrease, would decrease the percentage of total consideration paid by new investors by              percentage points, assuming that the number of ADSs offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same. An increase or decrease of 1,000,000 in the number of ADSs offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase or decrease the total consideration paid by new investors by $             million and, in the case of an increase, would increase the percentage of total consideration paid by new investors by              percentage points and, in the case of a decrease, would decrease the percentage of total consideration paid by new investors by              percentage points, assuming no change in the assumed initial public offering price per ADS.

 

If the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full, the percentage of ordinary shares held by existing shareholders will decrease to         % of the total number of ordinary shares outstanding after the offering, and the number of shares held by new investors will be increased to             , or         % of the total number of ordinary shares outstanding after this offering.

 

The share information above excludes:

 

•

13,055,760 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options under our equity incentive plans, as of June 30, 2017 at a weighted average exercise price of £0.19 per share;

 

•

ordinary shares authorized for issuance pursuant to future awards under our equity incentive plans, as of June 30, 2017; and

 

•

120,000 ordinary shares issued upon exercise of options under our equity incentive plans subsequent to June 30, 2017 at a weighted average exercise price of £1.00 per share.

 

To the extent these outstanding options or any newly issued options are exercised, there will be further dilution to the new investors purchasing ADSs in this offering.

 

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SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

 

The following tables summarize our consolidated financial data as of the dates and for the periods indicated. The selected consolidated financial data as of and for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2016 have been derived from our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IASB, and audited in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and included elsewhere in this prospectus. The consolidated financial data as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2017 have been derived from our unaudited consolidated interim financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The unaudited consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as our audited consolidated financial statements and include all normal recurring adjustments that we consider necessary for a fair statement of our financial position and operating results as of the dates and for the periods presented.

 

Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected in the future. The following selected consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

		Year Ended December 31,								Six Months Ended June 30,
		2015				2016				2016				2017
										(unaudited)
		(in thousands, except per share data)
Consolidated statement of comprehensive loss data:
Research and development expenses		£	(5,655	)		£	(7,904	)		£	(3,784	)		£	(3,689	)
Administrative expenses			(1,251	)			(1,143	)			(908	)			(637	)
Initial public offering related expenses			—				—				—				(1,066	)
Net foreign exchange (losses) gains			(8	)			599				318				(161	)
Operating loss			(6,914	)			(8,448	)			(4,374	)			(5,553	)
Finance income			406				283				167				91
Loss before tax			(6,508	)			(8,165	)			(4,207	)			(5,462	)
Income tax credit			1,176				2,116				1,090				1,077
Loss for the period			(5,332	)			(6,049	)			(3,117	)			(4,385	)
Other comprehensive (expense) income:
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:
Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations			(1	)			(2	)			4				(1	)
Total comprehensive loss for the period		£	(5,333	)		£	(6,051	)		£	(3,113	)		£	(4,386	)
Basic and diluted loss per share		£	(0.06	)		£	(0.06	)		£	(0.03	)		£	(0.05	)

 

		As of December 31,								As of June 30,
		2015				2016				2017
										(unaudited)
		(in thousands)
Consolidated statement of financial position data:
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term deposits		£	29,187			£	19,990			£	15,918
Total assets			31,685				27,214				23,643
Share capital			659				663				663
Share premium			42,574				42,770				304
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)(1)			(16,224	)			(22,256	)			15,825
Total equity attributable to equity holders			29,960				25,241				21,387
Total liabilities			(1,725	)			(1,973	)			(2,256	)

 

(1)

The retained earnings balance includes the impact of the reduction of our share premium account and corresponding increase to our retained earnings (accumulated deficit) account reflected as of June 30, 2017 in connection with our re-registration as a public limited company, as further described in footnote 10 to the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

You should read the following discussion and analysis of financial condition and operating results together with the information in “Selected Consolidated Financial Data” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes to those statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. We present our consolidated financial statements in pounds sterling and in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IASB, which may differ in material respects from generally accepted accounting principles in other jurisdictions, including generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or U.S. GAAP.

 

The statements in this discussion regarding industry outlook, our expectations regarding our future performance, liquidity and capital resources and other non-historical statements are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties described in the sections titled “Risk Factors.” Our actual results may differ materially from those contained in or implied by any forward-looking statements.

 

Overview

 

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on significantly improving treatment outcomes for cancer patients by applying our ProTide technology to transform some of the most widely prescribed chemotherapy agents, nucleoside analogs, into more effective and safer medicines. While these conventional agents remain part of the standard of care for the treatment of many solid tumors, their efficacy is limited by cancer cell resistance mechanisms and they are often poorly tolerated. Utilizing our proprietary technology, we are developing new medicines, ProTides, designed to overcome key cancer resistance mechanisms and generate much higher concentrations of anti-cancer metabolites in cancer cells. Our most advanced ProTide candidates, Acelarin and NUC-3373, are new chemical entities derived from the nucleoside analogs gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil, respectively, two widely used chemotherapy agents. Acelarin is currently being evaluated in four clinical trials across several solid tumor indications, including ovarian cancer, biliary cancer and pancreatic cancer. NUC-3373 is currently in a Phase 1 trial for the potential treatment of a wide range of advanced solid tumor cancers. We have retained worldwide rights to these lead product candidates as well as our preclinical product candidates, all of which we refer to as ProTides.

 

Acelarin, our most advanced product candidate, is a ProTide transformation of gemcitabine. We have begun a Phase 2 trial of Acelarin in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer for which we expect to report interim data in 2018. Acelarin is also being evaluated in another Phase 1b trial in patients with biliary cancer to determine its optimal dose in combination with cisplatin. We expect to report data from this trial in 2018, after which we plan to commence a multi-national Phase 3 trial. In addition, the National Cancer Research Institute in the United Kingdom is facilitating a Phase 3 trial of Acelarin for the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer.

 

NUC-3373, our second product candidate, is a ProTide transformation of the active anti-cancer metabolite of 5-fluorouracil, or 5-FU. NUC-3373 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial of patients with advanced solid tumors and we expect to report interim data from this trial in the second half of 2017. Contingent on regulatory guidance and other factors, we plan to initiate a number of clinical trials in 2018: a Phase 1b trial of NUC-3373 in patients with colorectal cancer together with other agents routinely used in 5-FU combination regimens; a Phase 3 trial in patients with advanced colorectal cancer; and a Phase 2 trial in patients with advanced breast cancer.

 

NUC-7738, our third product candidate, is a ProTide transformation of cordycepin, a novel nucleoside analog that has shown potent anti-cancer activity in preclinical studies. We are evaluating NUC-7738 in preclinical studies and we expect to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial in 2018.

 

We do not have any approved products and, as a result, have not generated any revenue from product sales or otherwise. Our ability to generate revenue sufficient to achieve profitability will depend on our successful

 

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development and eventual commercialization of our product candidates, if approved, for one or more of their targeted indications. Since our inception, we have incurred significant operating losses. For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2016, we incurred net losses of £5.3 million and £6.0 million, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2017, we incurred net losses of £3.1 million and £4.4 million, respectively. As of June 30, 2017, we had retained earnings of £15.8 million. The retained earnings balance includes the impact of the reduction of our share premium account and corresponding increase to our retained earnings (accumulated deficit) account reflected as of June 30, 2017 in connection with our re-registration as a public limited company, as further described in footnote 10 to the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements.

 

We expect to incur significant expenses and operating losses for the foreseeable future as we advance the clinical development of our ProTides, and seek regulatory approval and pursue commercialization of our product candidates, if approved. In addition, if we obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates, we expect to incur significant commercialization expenses related to product manufacturing, marketing, sales and distribution. In addition, we may incur expenses in connection with the in-license or acquisition of additional product candidates and the potential clinical development of any such product candidates. Furthermore, after the closing of this offering, we expect to incur additional costs associated with operating as a foreign private issuer listed on the Nasdaq Global Market, or Nasdaq, including significant legal, accounting, investor relations and other expenses that we did not previously incur as a private company.

 

As a result of these anticipated expenditures, we will need additional financing to support our continuing operations. Until such time as we can generate significant revenue from product sales, if ever, we expect to finance our operations through a combination of public or private equity or debt financings or other sources, which may include collaborations with third parties. Adequate additional financing may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. Our inability to raise capital as and when needed would have a negative impact on our financial condition and our ability to pursue our business strategy. We will need to generate significant revenue to achieve profitability, and we may never do so.

 

We were incorporated under the laws of England and Wales in 1997 and commenced business operations in 2008. On August 29, 2017, we re-registered as a public limited company and changed our name from NuCana BioMed Limited to NuCana plc. Our principal executive offices are located in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. We have raised £43.4 million in gross proceeds from investors since our incorporation, of which £33.9 million was raised in our most recent equity financing in 2014, primarily with a number of European and U.S.-based institutional investors.

 

Strategic Licensing Agreements

 

In August 2009, we entered into a research, collaboration and license agreement with Cardiff University and University College Cardiff Consultants Ltd., or Cardiff Consultants, which we refer to as the Cardiff Agreement. Under the Cardiff Agreement, we collaborate with Cardiff University in the design, synthesis, characterization and evaluation of phosphoramidate prodrugs, which we refer to as ProTides, based on certain nucleosides. We are responsible for funding certain work performed by Cardiff University and making other payments, which we expect will total approximately £141,350 in aggregate in 2017. On our filing, or that of a sublicensee, of patent applications resulting from research under the Cardiff Agreement, we will owe Cardiff Consultants certain immaterial payments. If we or our sublicensees develop and commercialize a product resulting from such research, we will owe Cardiff Consultants clinical development milestone payments of up to £1,875,000; provided, that such milestone payments are due only with respect to the first product within each nucleoside family to achieve the milestone. We will also owe Cardiff Consultants royalties equal to a low-single digit percentage on our sales of a product resulting from such research. Should we sublicense our right to commercialize a product resulting from the research, we will owe Cardiff Consultants a high-single digit percentage of payments received in consideration of the sublicense.

 

In October 2009, we entered into a license and collaboration agreement with Cardiff ProTides Ltd., or Cardiff ProTides, which agreement was subsequently amended and restated as an assignment, license and

 

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collaboration agreement in March 2012 and was further amended in May 2012, which we refer to as the ProTides Agreement. Under the ProTides Agreement, we collaborated with Cardiff ProTides in the discovery, drug design and in vitro screening of purine and pyrimidine based nucleosides as potential drug candidates. If we or a sublicensee develop one or more products covered by a valid claim of an assigned patent or patent resulting from Cardiff ProTides’ research, such as Acelarin, we will owe Cardiff ProTides up to approximately $4.5 million in development and approval milestone payments in the aggregate for the first such product. Additional development and approval milestones would be payable for the first additional product in a new nucleoside series covered by a valid claim of an assigned patent or a patent resulting from Cardiff ProTides’ research, although the maximum potential value of such milestone payments is approximately half the value of the milestone payments associated with the first product. We will also owe Cardiff ProTides royalties equal to a percentage in mid- to high-single digits on sales of such products, subject to reduction under certain circumstances. Royalties on sales by sublicensees are set by formula, which formula would be likely to result in a royalty in the mid-single digits.

 

Financial Operations Overview

 

Revenues

 

We do not have any approved products. Accordingly, we have not generated any revenue, and we do not expect to generate any revenue from the sale of any products unless and until we obtain regulatory approvals for, and commercialize any of, our product candidates. In the future, we will seek to generate revenue primarily from product sales and, potentially, regional or global collaborations with strategic partners.

 

Operating Expenses

 

We classify our operating expenses into two categories: research and development expenses and administrative expenses. Personnel costs, including salaries, benefits, bonuses and share-based payment expense, comprise a significant component of each of these expense categories. We allocate expenses associated with personnel costs based on the function performed by the respective employees.

 

Research and Development Expenses. The largest component of our total operating expenses since inception has been costs related to our research and development activities, including the preclinical and clinical development of our product candidates.

 

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Our research and development expense primarily consists of:

 

•

costs incurred under agreements with contract research organizations, or CROs, and investigative sites that conduct preclinical studies and clinical trials;

 

•

costs related to manufacturing active pharmaceutical ingredients and drug products for preclinical studies and clinical trials;

 

•

salaries and personnel-related costs, including bonuses, benefits and any share-based payment expense, for our personnel performing research and development activities or managing those activities that have been out-sourced;

 

•

fees paid to consultants and other third parties who support our product candidate development;

 

•

other costs incurred in seeking regulatory approval of our product candidates;

 

•

costs of related office space allocated to our research and development function, materials and equipment; and

 

•

payments under our license agreements.

 

The successful development of our product candidates is highly uncertain. Product candidates in later stages of clinical development generally have higher development costs than those in earlier stages of clinical

 

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development, primarily due to the increased size and duration of later-stage clinical trials. Accordingly, we expect research and development costs to increase significantly for the foreseeable future as programs progress. However, we do not believe that it is possible at this time to accurately project total program-specific expenses through commercialization. We are also unable to predict when, if ever, material net cash inflows will commence from our product candidates to offset these expenses. Our expenditures on current and future preclinical and clinical development programs are subject to numerous uncertainties in timing and cost to completion.

 

The duration, costs and timing of clinical trials and development of our product candidates will depend on a variety of factors including:

 

•

the scope, rate of progress, results and expenses of our ongoing and future clinical trials, preclinical studies and research and development activities;

 

•

the potential need for additional clinical trials or preclinical studies requested by regulatory agencies;

 

•

potential uncertainties in clinical trial enrollment rates or drop-out or discontinuation rates of patients;

 

•

competition with other drug development companies in, and the related expense of, identifying and enrolling patients in our clinical trials and contracting with third-party manufacturers for the production of the drug product needed for our clinical trials;

 

•

the achievement of milestones requiring payments under in-licensing agreements;

 

•

any significant changes in government regulation;

 

•

the terms and timing of any regulatory approvals;

 

•

the expense of filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing patent claims and other intellectual property rights; and

 

•

the ability to market, commercialize and achieve market acceptance for any of our product candidates, if approved.

 

We track research and development expenses on a program-by-program basis for both clinical-stage and preclinical product candidates. Manufacturing and nonclinical research and development expenses are assigned or allocated to individual product candidates.

 

Administrative Expenses. Administrative expenses consist of personnel costs, allocated expenses and other expenses for outside professional services, including legal, audit and accounting services. Personnel costs consist of salaries, bonuses, benefits and share-based payment expense. Other administrative expenses include office space-related costs not otherwise allocated to research and development expense, professional fees and costs of our information systems. We anticipate that our administrative expenses will continue to increase in the future as we increase our headcount to support our continued research and development and potential commercialization of our product candidates. We also expect to incur additional expenses as a public company, including expenses related to compliance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and Nasdaq, additional insurance expenses, and expenses related to investor relations activities and other administrative and professional services.

 

Initial Public Offering Related Expenses

 

Initial public offering, or IPO, related expenses primarily relates to legal, accounting and other advisors’ fees in relation to our anticipated IPO.

 

Net Foreign Exchange Gains (Losses)

 

Net foreign exchange gains (losses) primarily includes gains or losses on cash held in U.S. dollars and on advances paid to suppliers.

 

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Finance Income

 

Finance income relates to interest earned on our cash, cash equivalents and short-term deposits.

 

Income Tax Credit

 

We are subject to corporate taxation in the United Kingdom. Our wholly owned U.S. subsidiary, NuCana, Inc., is subject to corporate taxation in the United States. Due to the nature of our business, we have generated losses since inception. Our income tax credit recognized represents the sum of the research and development tax credits recoverable in the United Kingdom and income tax payable in the United States.

 

As a company that carries out extensive research and development activities, we benefit from the U.K. research and development tax credit regime and are able to surrender some of our losses for a cash rebate of up to 33.35% of expenditures related to eligible research and development projects. Qualifying expenditures largely comprise clinical trial and manufacturing costs, employment costs for relevant staff and consumables incurred as part of research and development projects. Certain subcontracted qualifying research and development expenditures are eligible for a cash rebate of up to 21.68%. A large portion of costs relating to our research and development, clinical trials and manufacturing activities are eligible for inclusion within these tax credit cash rebate claims.

 

We may not be able to continue to claim research and development tax credits in the future under the current research and development tax credit scheme when we become a public company because we may no longer qualify as a small or medium-sized company. However, we may be able to file under a large company scheme.

 

Unsurrendered tax losses are carried forward to be offset against future taxable profits. After accounting for tax credits receivable, there were accumulated tax losses for carry forward in the United Kingdom of £8.5 million as of June 30, 2017. There were also temporary differences on share-based compensation arrangements of £31.4 million. No deferred tax asset is recognized in respect of accumulated tax losses or temporary differences on share-based compensation arrangements because future profits are not sufficiently certain.

 

In the event we generate revenues in the future, we may benefit from the new “patent box” initiative that allows profits attributable to revenues from patents or patented products to be taxed at a lower rate than other revenue. The rate of tax for relevant streams of revenue for companies receiving this relief will be 10%.

 

Value Added Tax, or VAT, is charged on all qualifying goods and services by VAT-registered businesses. An amount of 20% of goods and services is added to all sales invoices and is payable to the U.K. tax authorities. Similarly, VAT paid on purchase invoices is reclaimable from the U.K. tax authorities.

 

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Results of Operations

 

Comparison of Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 and 2017

 

The following table summarizes the results of our operations for the six month periods ended June 30, 2016 and 2017.

 

		Six Months Ended June 30,
		2016				2017
		(unaudited) (in thousands)
Research and development expenses		£	(3,784	)		£	(3,689	)
Administrative expenses			(908	)			(637	)
Initial public offering related expenses			—				(1,066	)
Net foreign exchange (losses) gains			318				(161	)
Operating loss			(4,374	)			(5,553	)
Finance income			167				91
Loss before tax			(4,207	)			(5,462	)
Income tax credit			1,090				1,077
Loss for the period			(3,117	)			(4,385	)
Other comprehensive (expense) income:
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:
Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations			4				(1	)
Total comprehensive loss for the period		£	(3,113	)		£	(4,386	)

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses were £3.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 as compared to £3.8 million for the six month period ended June 30, 2016, a decrease of £0.1 million, which decrease resulted from differences in the phases of our ongoing research projects. The following table summarizes the costs incurred for each of our research and development programs for the six month periods ended June 30, 2016 and 2017:

 

		Six Months Ended June 30,
		2016				2017
		(unaudited)
		(in thousands)
Acelarin		£	2,361			£	2,248
NUC-3373			537				816
NUC-7738			78				267
Other			808				358
		£	3,784			£	3,689

 

Administrative Expenses

 

Administrative expenses were £0.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 as compared to £0.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016. The decrease was largely attributable to higher legal fees in 2016.

 

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Initial Public Offering Expenses

 

In the six months ended June 30, 2017, costs of £1.1 million were incurred, primarily related to legal, accounting and other advisors’ fees in connection with our anticipated IPO. There were no such costs in the six months ended June 30, 2016.

 

Net Foreign Exchange Gains (Losses)

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2017, we reported a net foreign exchange loss of £0.2 million as compared to a net foreign exchange gain of £0.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016. In the six months ended June 30, 2017, the loss arose from revaluation of cash balances and advance supplier payments made in U.S. dollars, which depreciated during the first six months of 2017 relative to the U.K. pound sterling. In the six months ended June 30, 2016, the gain arose primarily from higher average cash balances held in U.S. dollars, which appreciated during 2016 relative to the U.K. pound sterling.

 

Finance Income

 

Finance income represents bank interest and was £0.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and £0.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016. The decrease in bank interest for the six month ended June 30, 2017 was primarily due to lower average cash balances as compared to the same period in 2016 as well as lower rates of interest on bank balances.

 

Income Tax Credit

 

Our consolidated effective tax rate for the full year 2017 is estimated to be 19.7%, which is consistently applied to the 2017 interim period. In 2016, our consolidated effective tax rate was 25.9% which is consistently applied to the 2016 interim period. The income tax credit, which is largely comprised of research and development tax credits, amounted to £1.1 million for both the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2017. Research and development credits are obtained at a maximum rate of 33.35% of our qualifying research and development expenses.

 

Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2015 and 2016

 

The following table summarizes the results of our operations for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2016.

 

		Year Ended December 31,
		2015				2016
		(in thousands)
Research and development expenses		£	(5,655	)		£	(7,904	)
Administrative expenses			(1,251	)			(1,143	)
Net foreign exchange gains (losses)			(8	)			599
Operating loss			(6,914	)			(8,448	)
Finance income			406				283
Loss before tax			(6,508	)			(8,165	)
Income tax credit			1,176				2,116
Loss for the year			(5,332	)			(6,049	)
Other comprehensive expense:
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:
Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations			(1	)			(2	)
Total comprehensive loss for the year		£	(5,333	)		£	(6,051	)

 

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Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2016 were £7.9 million as compared to £5.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, an increase of £2.2 million. The increase was attributable to the number and size of clinical trials being performed in 2016 as compared to 2015 as well as an increase in the number of research and development personnel. The following table summarizes the costs incurred for each of our research and development programs for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2016:

		Year Ended December 31,
		2015				2016
		(unaudited)
		(in thousands)
Acelarin		£	3,408			£	4,729
NUC-3373			1,122				1,413
NUC-7738			252				587
Other			873				1,175
		£	5,655			£	7,904

 

Administrative Expenses

 

Administrative expenses were £1.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 as compared to £1.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. This decrease was largely attributable to lower recruitment expenses in 2016 as compared to 2015.

 

Net Foreign Exchange Gains (Losses)

 

For the year ended December 31, 2016, we reported a net foreign exchange gain of £0.6 million as compared to a net foreign exchange loss of £8,000 for the year ended December 31, 2015. This was primarily from a higher average cash balance being held in U.S. dollars, which appreciated during 2016 relative to the U.K. pound sterling.

 

Finance Income

 

Finance income represents bank interest and was £0.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 and £0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The decrease in bank interest for 2016 was primarily due to lower average cash balances in 2016 as compared to 2015.

 

Income Tax Credit

 

The income tax credit, which is largely comprised of research and development credits, amounted to £2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 as compared to £1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, an increase in the net credit amount of £0.9 million. Research and development credits are obtained at a maximum rate of 33.35% of our qualifying research and development expenses, and the increase in the net credit was primarily attributable to an increase in our eligible research and development expenses.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Overview

 

Since our inception, we have incurred significant operating losses and negative cash flows. We anticipate that we will continue to incur losses for at least the next several years. We expect that our research and development and administrative expenses will increase in connection with conducting clinical trials and seeking marketing approval for our product candidates, as well as costs associated with operating as a public company. As a result, we will need additional capital to fund our operations, which we may obtain from additional equity financings, debt financings, research funding, collaborations, contract and grant revenue or other sources.

 

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As of December 31, 2016 and June 30, 2017, we had cash and cash equivalents of £20.0 million and £15.9 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2015, we had cash, cash equivalents and short-term deposits of £29.2 million. We do not currently have any approved products and have never generated any revenue from product sales or otherwise. To date, we have financed our operations primarily through the issuances of our equity securities.

 

We have no ongoing material financing commitments, such as lines of credit or guarantees, that are expected to affect our liquidity over the next five years, other than operating leases.

 

Cash Flows

 

The following table summarizes the results of our cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2017.

 

		Six Months Ended June 30,
		2016				2017
		(unaudited)
		(in thousands)
Net cash used in operating activities		£	(4,380	)		£	(3,670	)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities			5,210				(399	)
Net cash from financing activities			—				—
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents		£	830			£	(4,069	)

 

Operating activities. The decrease in net cash used in operating activities to £3.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 from £4.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was primarily due to the utilization of advance payments made during 2016 to two vendors to manufacture drug substance and to manage our clinical trials, and the receipt of a research and development tax credit.

 

Investing activities. The decrease in cash relating to investing activities of £5.6 million from the six months ended June 30, 2016 to June 30, 2017 is primarily due to proceeds from maturing deposits of £5.1 million, received in the six months ended June 30, 2016. The six months ended June 30, 2017 also included higher acquisition payments in respect of intangible assets.

 

The following table summarizes the results of our cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2016.

 

		Year Ended December 31,
		2015				2016
		(in thousands)
Net cash used in operating activities		£	(4,467	)		£	(9,264	)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities			(181	)			14,931
Net cash from financing activities			—				200
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents		£	(4,648	)		£	5,867

 

Operating activities. The increase in net cash used in operating activities to £9.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 from £4.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 was primarily due to advance payments made during 2016 to two vendors to manufacture drug substance and to manage our clinical trials and an increase in the research and development tax credit receivable.

 

Investing activities. Net cash used in investing activities was £0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. Net cash provided by investing activities was £14.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. This change was primarily due to an increase in proceeds from maturing deposits.

 

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Financing activities. The increase in net cash from financing activities to £0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 from zero for the year ended December 31, 2015 was due to proceeds received from the issuance of ordinary shares upon the exercise of share options.

 

Operating and Capital Expenditure Requirements

 

We have not achieved profitability on a quarterly or annual basis since our inception, and we expect to incur net losses in the future. We expect that our operating expenses will increase as we continue to invest to grow our ProTide pipeline, hire additional employees and increase research and development expenses.

 

Additionally, as a public company, we will incur significant audit, legal and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. We believe that our existing capital resources, including the net proceeds from this offering, will be sufficient to fund our operations, including currently anticipated research and development activities and planned capital spending for at least the next          months.

 

Our future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including but not limited to:

 

•

the scope, rate of progress and cost of our clinical trials, preclinical programs and other related activities;

 

•

the extent of success in our early preclinical and clinical stage research programs, which will determine the amount of funding required to further the development of our product candidates;

 

•

the progress that we make in developing new product candidates based on our proprietary ProTide technology;

 

•

the cost of manufacturing clinical supplies and establishing commercial supplies of our product candidates and any products that we may develop;

 

•

the costs involved in filing and prosecuting patent applications and enforcing and defending potential patent claims;

 

•

the outcome, timing and cost of regulatory approvals of our ProTide product candidates;

 

•

the cost and timing of establishing sales, marketing and distribution capabilities; and

 

•

the costs of hiring additional skilled employees to support our continued growth and the related costs of leasing additional office space.

 

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

 

The following table summarizes our contractual commitments and obligations as of December 31, 2016.

 

		Payments Due by Period
		Total				Less than 1 year				1 - 3 years				3 - 5 years				More than 5 years
		(in thousands)
Operating lease obligations		£	254			£	192			£	62			£	—			£	—
Total		£	254			£	192			£	62			£	—			£	—

 

Operating lease obligations relate to rental of office space. As of June 30, 2017, we had operating lease obligations of £50,140, which are due in less than one year. On August 11, 2017 and August 31, 2017, we entered into new lease obligations for office space. The lease obligations are for a period of five years with a break clause after three years.

 

We have agreed to make milestone payments and pay royalties and annual maintenance fees to third parties under various licensing and related agreements and we have agreed to make payments to CROs and

 

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manufacturers under various CRO and manufacturing agreements. We have not included any such contingent payment obligations in the table above as the amount, timing and likelihood of such payments are not fixed or determinable.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We do not have variable interests in variable interest entities or any off-balance sheet arrangements.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

Market risk arises from our exposure to fluctuation in interest rates and currency exchange rates. These risks are managed by maintaining an appropriate mix of cash deposits in the two main currencies we operate in, placed with a variety of financial institutions for varying periods according to expected liquidity requirements.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

As of June 30, 2017, we had cash and cash equivalents of £15.9 million. As of December 31, 2016, we had cash and cash equivalents of £20.0 million. Our exposure to interest rate sensitivity is impacted primarily by changes in the underlying U.K. bank interest rates. Our surplus cash and cash equivalents are invested in interest-bearing savings accounts and certificates of deposit from time to time. We have not entered into investments for trading or speculative purposes. Due to the conservative nature of our investment portfolio, which is predicated on capital preservation of investments with short-term maturities, an immediate one percentage point change in interest rates would not have a material effect on the fair market value of our portfolio, and therefore we do not expect our operating results or cash flows to be significantly affected by changes in market interest rates.

 

Currency Risk

 

Our functional currency is U.K. pounds sterling, and our transactions are commonly denominated in that currency. However, we incur a portion of expenses in other currencies, primarily U.S. dollars, and are exposed to the effects of this exchange rate. Since mid-2016, there has been significantly increased volatility in the exchange rate between the pound sterling and the U.S. dollar and an overall weakening of the pound sterling related to Britain’s exit from the European Union. Although we are based in the United Kingdom, we source our active pharmaceutical ingredient, or API, and other raw materials and our research and development, manufacturing, consulting and other services worldwide, including from the United States, the European Union and India.

 

Any weakening of the pound sterling against the currencies of such other jurisdictions makes the purchase of such goods and services more expensive for us. We seek to minimize this exposure by maintaining currency cash balances at levels appropriate to meet foreseeable short to mid-term expenses in these other currencies. We do not use forward exchange contracts to manage exchange rate exposure. A 1% increase in the value of the pound sterling relative to the U.S. dollar would not have had a material effect on the carrying value of our net financial assets and liabilities in foreign currencies at December 31, 2016 or at June 30, 2017.

 

Critical Accounting Policies, Judgments and Estimates

 

In the application of our accounting policies, we are required to make judgments, estimates, and assumptions about the value of assets and liabilities for which there is no definitive third-party reference. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates. We review our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognized in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period or in the period of the revisions and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

 

The following are our critical judgments that we have made in the process of applying our accounting policies and that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognized in our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

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Recognition of Clinical Trial Expenses

 

As part of the process of preparing our consolidated financial statements, we may be required to estimate accrued expenses related to our clinical trials. In order to obtain reasonable estimates, we review open contracts and purchase orders. In addition, we communicate with applicable personnel in order to identify services that have been performed, but for which we have not yet been invoiced. In most cases, our vendors provide us with monthly invoices in arrears for services performed. We confirm our estimates with these vendors and make adjustments as needed. The following are examples of our accrued expenses:

 

•

fees paid to CROs for services performed on preclinical studies and clinical trials; and

 

•

fees paid for professional services.

 

Share-Based Payments

 

We award share options to certain of our employees, directors and consultants as part of their compensation. All of these compensation arrangements are settled in equity at a predetermined price and generally vest over a period of three to four years. All share options have a term of 10 years before expiration. We measure share-based awards at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and we recognize it as a compensation expense over the vesting period with a corresponding increase in reserves. We determine the fair value of our share options using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.

 

In future periods, we expect our share-based payment expense to increase due in part to our existing unrecognized share-based payment expenses and the grant of additional share-based awards to continue to attract, incent and retain our employees, directors and consultants.

 

Valuation of Share Options. The Black-Scholes option pricing model requires the input of subjective assumptions, including assumptions about the expected life of share-based awards and share price volatility. In addition, as a privately held company, one of the most subjective inputs into the Black-Scholes option pricing model is the estimated fair value of our ordinary shares.

 

As a privately held company, our share price does not have sufficient historical volatility for us to adequately assess the fair value of the share option grants. As a result, our management considered the historical volatility of other comparable publicly traded companies and, based on this analysis, concluded that a volatility range of 60.92% to 67.92% was appropriate for the valuation of our share options. We intend to continue to consistently apply this methodology using the same comparable companies until a sufficient amount of historical information regarding the volatility of our own share price as a public company becomes available.

 

The expected life of the option, beginning with the option grant date, was used in valuing our share options. The expected life used in the calculation of share-based payment expense is the time from the grant date to the expected exercise date. The life of the options depends on the option expiration date, volatility of the underlying shares and vesting features.

 

IFRS 2, Share-based Payment, requires the use of the risk-free interest rate of the country in which the entity’s shares are principally traded, with a remaining term equal to the expected life of the option. The third-party valuation firm applied the appropriate risk-free rate using the Bank of England’s estimates of gilt zero-coupon yield curve as at the respective share option grant dates.

 

Valuation of Ordinary Shares. There are significant judgments and estimates inherent in the determination of the fair value of our ordinary shares. These judgments and estimates include assumptions regarding our future operating performance, the likelihood and time to complete an IPO or other liquidity event, the related company valuations associated with such events, and the determinations of the appropriate valuation methods. If we had made different assumptions, our share-based payment expense, loss for the year and total comprehensive loss, on both an absolute and per-share basis, could have been significantly different.

 

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In conducting our valuations, we considered all objective and subjective factors that we believed to be relevant for each valuation conducted, including our best estimate of our business condition, prospects, and operating performance at each valuation date. Within the valuations performed, a range of factors, assumptions, and methodologies were used. The significant factors considered included:

 

•

the lack of an active public market for our ordinary shares, as well as our series A and series B convertible participating preferred shares;

 

•

the prices of our series A and series B convertible participating preferred shares that we had sold to outside investors in arm’s length transactions, and the rights, preferences and privileges of the series A and series B convertible participating preferred shares relative to our ordinary shares;

 

•

the data generated from our research and development programs and financial condition;

 

•

the material risks related to our business and industry;

 

•

our business strategy;

 

•

the market performance of publicly traded companies in the life sciences and biotechnology sectors; and

 

•

the likelihood of achieving a liquidity event for the holders of our ordinary shares, such as an IPO, given prevailing market conditions.

 

During 2016, we issued share options on June 30, August 22, October 28 and December 12. These share options were awarded based on the underlying share price of £1.00 per ordinary share. We made contemporaneous estimates of the valuation of the share price, which for share options issued in 2016 was retrospectively revalued upon contemplation of this offering. After considering the market approach, the income approach and the asset-based approach, we utilized the market approach to determine the estimated fair value of our ordinary shares based on its determination that this approach was most appropriate for a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company at this point in its development. Consideration was given to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Practice Aid: “Valuation of Privately-Held Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation,” or the Practice Aid, in addition to input from management, the likelihood of completing an IPO and recent transactions with investors. Once a public trading market for our ordinary shares (in the form of ADSs) has been established in connection with the completion of this offering, it will no longer be necessary to estimate the fair value of our ordinary shares in connection with our accounting for share-based payment expenses, as the fair value of our ordinary shares will be determinable by reference to the trading price of our ADSs on Nasdaq. The retrospective valuation dates for June 30, 2016, August 22, 2016, October 28, 2016 and December 12, 2016 resulted in valuations of our ordinary shares of £1.74, £2.15, £2.19 and £2.30 per share, respectively, as of those dates.

 

Our ordinary share valuations were prepared using the guideline public company, or GPC, method under the market approach. In the application of the GPC method, we considered the pricing of IPOs completed by clinical-stage oncology companies between April 2015 and May 2016. We converted prospective IPO value to present value by applying a discount rate of 25%. The discount rate was derived from studies of rates of return required by venture investors in IPO-stage companies. In addition to the IPO GPCs, we considered the enterprise values indicated by a group of eight trading GPCs. The trading prices of these clinical-stage GPCs provided contemporaneous indications of value as of each appraisal date. We applied a discount for lack of marketability to the ordinary shares to account for the lack of access to an active public market. We estimated the discount for lack of marketability using an Asian put model.

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2017, we issued share options on May 16. These share options were awarded based on the underlying share price of £2.77 per ordinary share. We made contemporaneous estimates of the valuation of the share price using the same methodology described above.

 

The following table summarizes by grant date the number of ordinary shares subject to options granted between January 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017, the per share purchase or exercise prices, the fair value of the

 

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ordinary shares on the dates of grant, the re-assessed fair value of the ordinary shares on the dates of grant, if applicable, and the estimated fair value per option utilized to calculate share-based payment expense.

 

Grant date		Number of options granted				Exercise price per share				Fair value of ordinary share at grant date				Re-assessed fair value of ordinary  share at grant date				Estimated fair value per option
June 30, 2016			1,082,760			£	1.00			£	1.00			£	1.74			£	1.01
Aug. 22, 2016			50,000			£	0.70			£	1.00			£	2.15			£	1.54
Aug. 22, 2016			150,000			£	0.75			£	1.00			£	2.15			£	1.50
Aug. 22, 2016			100,000			£	0.85			£	1.00			£	2.15			£	1.44
Aug. 22, 2016			45,000			£	0.90			£	1.00			£	2.15			£	1.40
Aug. 22, 2016			20,000			£	0.90			£	1.00			£	2.15			£	1.40
Aug. 22, 2016			150,000			£	0.90			£	1.00			£	2.15			£	1.40
Oct. 28, 2016			50,000			£	0.85			£	1.00			£	2.19			£	1.46
Oct. 28, 2016			200,000			£	1.00			£	1.00			£	2.19			£	1.37
Dec. 12, 2016			183,000			£	1.00			£	1.00			£	2.30			£	1.30
May 16, 2017			93,000			£	1.00			£	2.77				n/a			£	1.92

 

Deferred Tax and Current Tax Credits

 

Tax on the profit or loss for the year comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognized in the statement of operations, except to the extent that it relates to items recognized directly in equity, in which case it is recognized in equity. Current tax is the expected tax payable on the taxable income or loss for the year, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date, and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous years. Tax credits are accrued for the year based on calculations that conform to the U.K. research and development tax credit regime applicable to small and medium-sized companies. We may not be able to continue to claim research and development tax credits in the future under the current research and development tax credit scheme, when we become a U.S. public company because we may no longer qualify as a small or medium-sized company. However, we may be able to file under a large company scheme. Deferred tax is recognized on temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for taxation purposes. The amount of deferred tax is based on the expected manner of realization or settlement of the carrying amount of assets and liabilities, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date. A deferred tax asset is recognized only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which the asset can be utilized. No deferred tax assets are recognized on our losses carried forward because there is currently no indication that we will make sufficient profits to utilize these tax losses.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

The International Accounting Standards Board, or IASB, and International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee, or IFRIC, have issued the following standards and interpretations, which are considered relevant to us, with an effective date after December 31, 2017.

 

		Effective Date
IFRS 9: Financial Instruments		January 1, 2018
IFRS 16: Leases		January 1, 2019
Amendments to IFRS 2: Classification and Measurement of Share-based Payment Transactions		January 1, 2018
Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2014-2016 Cycle		January 1, 2018
IFRIC Interpretation 22 Foreign Currency Transactions and Advance Consideration		January 1, 2018

 

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We will adopt these standards and interpretations in accordance with their effective dates. See Note 2 “Significant Accounting Policies—Accounting Standards” of the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016 included elsewhere in this prospectus for more information.

 

Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012

 

In April 2012, the U.S. Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act, was enacted. Section 107(b) of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company,” or EGC, can take advantage of an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards. Thus, an EGC can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. Given that we currently report and expect to continue to report under IFRS as issued by the IASB, we have irrevocably elected not to avail ourselves of this extended transition period, and, as a result, we will adopt new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for other public companies.

 

We intend to rely on other exemptions and reduced reporting requirements under the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions, as an EGC, we may rely on certain of these exemptions, including exemptions from (1) providing an auditor’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and (2) complying with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements, known as the auditor discussion and analysis. We will remain an EGC until the earliest of (a) the last day of our fiscal year during which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion; (b) the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering; (c) the date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt; or (d) the date on which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which would occur if the market value of our equity securities that are held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter. Once we cease to be an EGC, we will not be entitled to the exemptions provided in the JOBS Act.

 

We have taken advantage of reduced reporting requirements in this prospectus. Accordingly, the information contained herein may be different than the information you receive from other public companies in which you hold equity securities.

 

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BUSINESS

 

Overview

 

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on significantly improving treatment outcomes for cancer patients by applying our ProTide technology to transform some of the most widely prescribed chemotherapy agents, nucleoside analogs, into more effective and safer medicines. While these conventional agents remain part of the standard of care for the treatment of many solid tumors, their efficacy is limited by cancer cell resistance mechanisms and they are often poorly tolerated. Utilizing our proprietary technology, we are developing new medicines, ProTides, designed to overcome key cancer resistance mechanisms and generate much higher concentrations of anti-cancer metabolites in cancer cells. Our most advanced ProTide candidates, Acelarin and NUC-3373, are new chemical entities derived from the nucleoside analogs gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil, respectively, two widely used chemotherapy agents. Acelarin is currently being evaluated in four clinical trials across several solid tumor indications, including ovarian cancer, biliary cancer and pancreatic cancer. NUC-3373 is currently in a Phase 1 trial for the potential treatment of a wide range of advanced solid tumor cancers. We have retained worldwide rights to these lead product candidates as well as our preclinical product candidates, all of which we refer to as ProTides.

 

Acelarin, our most advanced product candidate, is a potential first-in-class ProTide that has been evaluated in over 130 patients. Acelarin is a ProTide transformation of gemcitabine that we believe could replace gemcitabine in certain cancer indications and have utility across a range of other cancers. In a Phase 1 dose-ranging trial in 49 evaluable patients with advanced metastatic solid tumors, Acelarin was well tolerated, achieved a 78% disease control rate and was associated with intracellular levels of active anti-cancer metabolite over 200 times higher than those reported for gemcitabine. A subset of 14 evaluable patients with relapsed/refractory gynecological cancers achieved a 93% disease control rate. In a Phase 1b dose-ranging trial in 23 evaluable patients with recurrent ovarian cancer, Acelarin was combined with carboplatin and achieved a 96% disease control rate. Based on these disease control rates and its tolerability profile, we have begun a Phase 2 trial of Acelarin in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer for which we expect to report interim data in 2018. Acelarin is also being evaluated in another Phase 1b trial in patients with biliary cancer to determine its optimal dose in combination with cisplatin. We expect to report data from this trial in 2018, after which we plan to commence a multi-national Phase 3 trial. In addition, the National Cancer Research Institute in the United Kingdom is facilitating a Phase 3 trial of Acelarin for the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer.

 

NUC-3373, our second product candidate, is a ProTide transformation of the active anti-cancer metabolite of 5-fluorouracil, or 5-FU, which we believe has the potential to replace 5-FU as the standard of care in the treatment of a wide range of cancers. In preclinical studies, we observed that NUC-3373 overcame the key resistance mechanisms associated with 5-FU and generated intracellular levels of active anti-cancer metabolite over 300 times higher than that of 5-FU. NUC-3373 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial of patients with advanced solid tumors and we expect to report interim data from this trial in the second half of 2017. Contingent on regulatory guidance and other factors, we plan to initiate a number of clinical trials in 2018: a Phase 1b trial of NUC-3373 in patients with colorectal cancer together with other agents routinely used in 5-FU combination regimens; a Phase 3 trial in patients with advanced colorectal cancer; and a Phase 2 trial in patients with advanced breast cancer.

 

NUC-7738, our third product candidate, is a ProTide transformation of cordycepin, a novel nucleoside analog that has shown potent anti-cancer activity in preclinical studies. We are evaluating NUC-7738 in preclinical studies and we expect to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial in 2018.

 

Despite the widespread use of nucleoside analogs, their efficacy is severely limited by cancer cell resistance mechanisms and they are often poorly tolerated. Harnessing the power of phosphoramidate chemistry, we convert nucleoside analogs into activated nucleotide analogs with the addition of a phosphate group, which is protected by specific combinations of aryl, ester and amino acid groupings. By adding and protecting this

 

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phosphate group, we design our ProTides to avoid or overcome key cancer resistance mechanisms in the uptake, activation and breakdown of nucleoside analogs. As a result, we believe our ProTides have the potential to generate hundreds of times higher concentrations of the active anti-cancer metabolites inside tumor cells, potentially making our ProTides more effective than the current standards of care. Because our ProTides resist breakdown, and are thus more stable, we believe they are also able to reduce or eliminate the generation of toxic byproducts that can result from the breakdown of nucleoside analogs like gemcitabine and 5-FU.

 

Our proprietary ProTide technology was invented in the Cardiff University laboratory of our late Chief Scientific Officer, Professor Christopher McGuigan, who conceived of, and filed the original composition of matter patents for our initial ProTides. The unique feature of his discovery was the specific combination of aryl, ester and amino acid groupings that protect the activated, or phosphorylated, nucleoside analog. This phosphoramidate chemistry approach is the key to the ProTide technology. Every ProTide grouping is distinct, and Professor McGuigan and his team synthesized and tested thousands of compounds in order to identify the optimal ProTide grouping for each underlying nucleoside analog.

 

We have licensed what we believe to be the foundational patent estate for the application of phosphoramidate chemistry in oncology. We have granted patents in key markets, including the United States, Europe and Japan, protecting the composition of matter of Acelarin, NUC-3373 and other of our product candidates. Professor McGuigan’s work preceded and helped lead to the development of several FDA-approved anti-viral drugs containing nucleotide analogs, including: sofosbuvir, or Sovaldi^®, which is also a key component of Harvoni^®; and tenofovir alafenamide fumarate, or TAF, which is a key component of Genvoya^®, Descovy^® and Odefsey^®.

 

We are led by Hugh S. Griffith, our founder and Chief Executive Officer, who brings over 25 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry including at Abbott Laboratories (now AbbVie Inc.) and Parke-Davis Warner Lambert (now Pfizer Inc.). Before founding NuCana, he led the operations of Bioenvision, Inc. from start-up through its acquisition by Genzyme Corporation. While at Bioenvision, he was instrumental in developing and commercializing clofarabine, a nucleoside analog for the treatment of pediatric leukemia. We are backed by leading life sciences investors, including Sofinnova Partners, Sofinnova Ventures, Morningside Group and Scottish Enterprise.

 

Our Strategy

 

Our goal is to transform standards of care and improve survival for patients across a wide range of cancer indications. Our strategy includes the following key components:

 

•

Rapidly develop Acelarin as a first-in-class nucleotide analog for the treatment of patients with cancer. We believe that Acelarin has the potential to replace the core chemotherapy component of treatment regimens for patients with various cancers, including:

 

•

Platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. We expect to report data from a Phase 2 trial of Acelarin in 2018. We also intend to explore the use of Acelarin in combination with Avastin, a widely used agent in the treatment of several cancers, and expect to report data from this trial in 2018.

 

•

Platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer. We expect to report data from a Phase 1b trial of Acelarin in combination with carboplatin during the second half of 2017. Contingent on regulatory guidance and other factors, we expect to commence a Phase 3 trial of Acelarin in combination with carboplatin for this indication in 2018.

 

•

Biliary cancer. We expect to report data from a Phase 1b trial of Acelarin in combination with cisplatin in 2018. Contingent on regulatory guidance and other factors, we plan to commence a Phase 3 trial of Acelarin in combination with cisplatin as a first-line treatment in 2018.

 

•

Pancreatic cancer. The National Cancer Research Institute in the United Kingdom is facilitating a Phase 3 trial of Acelarin as a first-line treatment compared to gemcitabine.

 

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•

Rapidly develop NUC-3373 to replace 5-FU as the standard of care for the treatment of patients with various cancers.

 

•

Advanced solid tumors. We expect interim data from a Phase 1 trial of NUC-3373 in patients with advanced solid tumors in the second half of 2017. We expect to report final data from this trial in 2018.

 

•

Colorectal cancer. We plan to establish the optimal dose of NUC-3373 in combination with other agents in a Phase 1b trial in 2018. Contingent on regulatory guidance and other factors, we also intend to initiate a Phase 3 trial of NUC-3373 monotherapy in 2018.

 

•

Breast cancer. We intend to conduct a Phase 2 trial of NUC-3373 compared to capecitabine, the oral version of 5-FU, in patients with recurrent breast cancer and anticipate reporting interim data from this trial in 2018.

 

•

Rapidly advance NUC-7738 into clinical trials. NUC-7738, a ProTide based on a novel nucleoside analog, is currently undergoing preclinical studies and we expect to initiate a Phase 1 trial in 2018 for solid tumors. In addition, we plan to develop NUC-7738 for the treatment of hematological malignancies.

 

•

Leverage our proprietary ProTide technology platform to develop additional product candidates. We are pursuing both the transformation of well-established and widely used nucleoside analogs as well as novel nucleoside analogs, which we believe have the potential to address additional areas of unmet medical need in oncology.

 

•

Continue to strengthen our intellectual property position. We own or have exclusive rights to the core technologies underlying our ProTide technology platform. We have granted patents in key markets, including the United States, Europe and Japan, protecting the composition of matter of Acelarin, NUC-3373 and other of our product candidates. We intend to further expand and enhance our intellectual property position.

 

•

Build a focused commercial organization. We have worldwide rights to all product candidates that we are developing. We believe that many of the cancers we are initially targeting with our ProTides can be addressed by a focused sales and marketing team. We plan to commercialize any product candidates for which we receive regulatory marketing approval using a specialized sales force in the United States and Europe.

 

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Our Pipeline

 

We take a scientifically driven approach to designing ProTides, which we believe have the potential to result in highly efficacious cancer therapies with improved tolerability. Our pipeline of product candidates is summarized below.

 

 

Cancer and the Need for Improved Treatment Options

 

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, with approximately 1.7 million new cases and 600,000 deaths expected in 2017 according to the American Cancer Society.

 

The medical treatment of cancer can be divided into three major categories: surgery, radiotherapy and therapeutics. Therapeutics include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted and hormonal agents.

 

The backbone of treatment for patients with cancer consists of chemotherapeutics, which generated sales of $20.6 billion worldwide in 2016. These therapies exert their effects by killing cancer cells or preventing them from replicating. Within the larger universe of chemotherapy, nucleoside analogs, such as gemcitabine and 5-FU, play a significant role. Nucleoside analogs have been in clinical use for over 50 years and have become cornerstones of treatment for patients with cancer. The FDA has approved 16 nucleoside analogs for the treatment of cancer and many of these have become the standard of care globally for patients. FDA-approved anti-cancer nucleoside analogs are: gemcitabine; 5-FU; capecitabine; floxuridine; clofarabine; fludarabine; cytarabine; azacytidine; decitabine; nelarabine; cladribine; pentostatin; 6-mercaptopurine; tipiracil; 6-thioguanine; and trifluorothymidine. The World Health Organization has classified seven of these nucleoside analogs, including gemcitabine and 5-FU, as Essential Medicines, which they define as medicines that satisfy the priority healthcare needs of the population and should be available at all times.

 

Many on-patent chemotherapies have generated significant sales, including, for example, gemcitabine, marketed as Gemzar^®, which had peak annual sales of $1.7 billion before losing patent protection in 2010. Gemcitabine is still used extensively and remains an important part of the standard of care for many cancers,

 

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including pancreatic, ovarian, biliary, non-small cell lung, bladder and breast cancers. In addition, approximately 500,000 patients per year in North America receive 5-FU, which is widely used for the treatment of many cancers, including colorectal, breast, stomach, head and neck, and pancreatic cancers. The oral version of a derivative of 5-FU, known as capecitabine and marketed as Xeloda^® for the treatment of colorectal, breast and stomach cancer, had worldwide sales of $1.5 billion in 2012, before the market launch of generic competitors. We believe the number of patients receiving capecitabine represents a small proportion of the overall number of patients treated with 5-FU and its derivatives.

 

Shortcomings of Existing Nucleoside Analog Drugs

 

Despite the widespread use of nucleoside analogs, their efficacy is severely limited by cancer cell resistance and they are often poorly tolerated.

 

Nucleoside analogs are based on the principle of blocking the replication of cancer cells by providing faulty DNA and RNA building blocks during the cell replication process, thus leading to cancer cell death, known as apoptosis. Some nucleoside analogs exert their effect by blocking enzymes necessary for the production of these DNA and RNA building blocks. However, there are critical barriers and cellular defenses that limit the efficacy of existing nucleoside analogs. The three critical shortcomings of nucleoside analogs are: (1) the need for uptake into cells by way of membrane proteins known as transporters; (2) the need for activation by the addition of one or more phosphate groups; and (3) the potential for enzymatic breakdown.

 

1. Uptake by transporters. Nucleoside analogs require specific active-transport proteins in the cell membrane to enter cancer cells. If these proteins are missing or down-regulated, nucleoside analogs cannot enter the cancer cell to exert their anti-cancer effect. Transport proteins, such as the human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1, or hENT1, are often not expressed at sufficient levels in many solid tumor cancers. For example, based on the published results of multiple studies assessing the correlation of hENT1 expression to survival outcomes in pancreatic cancer patients treated with gemcitabine, approximately 40% to 50% of pancreatic patients express low levels of hENT1, and thus derive little or no benefit from gemcitabine therapy.

 

2. Conversion to the active form. Nucleoside analogs are all dosed as inactive precursors, or prodrugs, because their active forms are unstable and their negative charge further prevents them from entering cells. Naturally occurring enzymes in cells must add at least one chemical entity known as a phosphate group to activate these prodrugs and enable them to be incorporated into nucleic-acid chains or to bind to their target enzymes and thereby exert their anti-cancer effect. This process of activation by adding a phosphate group is known as phosphorylation. However, the addition of phosphate groups often occurs at such an insufficient rate in cancer cells that it limits or prevents the generation of active anti-cancer metabolites, and in some cases phosphorylation does not occur at all.

 

3. Breakdown. Multiple enzymatic processes can break down nucleoside analogs, resulting in their degradation prior to phosphorylation, as well as the release of toxic byproducts that can lead to off-target toxicity. Breakdown can take place either inside or outside the cancer cell.

 

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Our ProTide Technology and its Key Advantages

 

We use our ProTide technology to design new chemical entities to overcome the three key challenges associated with existing nucleoside analogs: uptake, activation and breakdown as shown below:

 

 

Harnessing the power of phosphoramidate chemistry, we transform nucleoside analogs into activated nucleotide analogs with the addition of a phosphate group, which is protected by specific combinations of aryl, ester and amino acid groupings. We refer to these compounds as ProTides. We are applying our ProTide technology both to nucleoside analogs currently approved for use as a chemotherapy and to nucleoside analogs that have not, to date, been successfully developed.

 

A graphical representation of the chemical structure of nucleoside analogs, nucleotide analogs and ProTides is set forth below:

 

 

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Our researchers have invested over a decade of work in designing, synthesizing and screening ProTides, which we believe are optimally designed to overcome cancer cell resistance mechanisms. We have gained considerable insight from our scientific founders and executives in understanding phosphoramidate chemistry and the biology of how nucleotide analogs are able to exert their anti-cancer effects. Based on these learnings, we are able to efficiently create hundreds of target candidates from the millions of potential candidates. We then perform biological testing on these target candidates to select our lead ProTides.

 

Acelarin: A Transformation of Gemcitabine

 

Our lead product candidate, Acelarin, was designed to overcome the key cancer resistance mechanisms associated with the nucleoside analog, gemcitabine. We are rapidly advancing Acelarin in the clinic and exploring its use as a therapy against platinum-resistant and platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer, biliary cancer and pancreatic cancer.

 

Gemcitabine and its Limitations

 

Gemcitabine is a nucleoside analog that is used as a chemotherapeutic to treat a wide range of tumors and has been investigated in over 1,900 clinical trials. It is approved as a single agent for the treatment of pancreatic cancer and in combination with other chemotherapeutic drugs for the treatment of advanced ovarian, metastatic breast, and non-small cell lung cancers. Gemcitabine is also used to treat many other types of tumors, including biliary cancer, both as monotherapy and in combination with other therapeutics.

 

Gemcitabine is a conventional nucleoside analog which, like all nucleoside analogs, is an inactive prodrug. There are three key cancer resistance mechanisms that have been associated with a poor survival prognosis for gemcitabine therapy: transport, activation and breakdown. While there have been attempts to address the requirement for active transport of gemcitabine into cancer cells, we believe we are the first to address all three limitations at once.

 

1. Requires active transport. Gemcitabine requires the membrane transporter hENT1 to enter the cancer cell. Patients with a low level of hENT1 who receive gemcitabine have lower overall survival as compared to patients with a high level of hENT1. In a study published in 2004 in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, it was reported that pancreatic cancer patients with a high level of hENT1 expression had a median overall survival of 13 months compared to four months for those patients with a low level of hENT1 expression.

 

In a study published in 2009 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, non-small cell lung cancer patients with low levels of hENT1 who were treated with therapies that included gemcitabine survived for less than half as long as those with high levels of hENT1, specifically, 316 days in the case of low levels of hENT1, and 714 days in the case of high levels of hENT1.

 

Some previous product candidates that have been tested clinically by others were designed to address the challenge of membrane transport but these efforts failed even when the transport of these candidates across the cell membrane appeared to succeed. We believe that this was due to the failure of those candidates to address the other cancer resistance mechanisms of activation and breakdown.

 

2. Requires activation within the cancer cell. Once gemcitabine enters cells, it must be activated by the addition of phosphate groups before it can exert its cell-killing effect. The rate-limiting addition of the first phosphate group is rapidly followed by the addition of a second and third phosphate group. The end result of this phosphorylation is the creation of the active anti-cancer metabolite, which is known as dFdCTP. A specific enzyme, deoxycytidine kinase, or dCK, is responsible for the first rate-limiting phosphorylation step. Initially, about one-third of cancer cells have reduced levels of dCK, which has negative consequences for the efficacy of gemcitabine. A study published in the journal Gastroenterology in 2012 reported that decreased expression of dCK led to resistance to gemcitabine treatment in cellular assays. In another published study, low levels of dCK in the pancreatic cancer cells of patients who were treated with gemcitabine were associated with a median

 

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overall survival that was seven months shorter than that observed in patients with medium to high levels of dCK. dCK is also associated with acquired resistance and studies have shown that cancer cells can downregulate the production of dCK in the presence of gemcitabine leading to reduced efficacy.

 

Because gemcitabine has a short half-life, ranging from 42 to 94 minutes, even with dCK present in the cancer cell, much of the gemcitabine will have broken down before it can be converted to its active anti-cancer metabolite, dFdCTP.

 

3. Subject to breakdown. Gemcitabine, prior to being phosphorylated to its active form, is susceptible to being broken down chemically by metabolic enzymes, such as cytidine deaminase, or CDA, which irreversibly degrades up to 90% of gemcitabine to an inactive form in less than three hours. A study published in the British Journal of Cancer in 2005 showed that increased levels of CDA were associated with an approximate five-month reduction in median overall survival in gemcitabine-treated pancreatic cancer patients. CDA is also expressed by various microorganisms in the body, such as mycoplasma that have been found to be associated with 30% to 50% of solid tumors, which further exacerbates the breakdown of gemcitabine.

 

Contribution of resistance mechanisms to survival

 

Each of these resistance mechanisms on its own negatively impacts the survival of cancer patients receiving gemcitabine therapy by at least five months. While studies have not been done on the effect of the combination of all three of these resistance mechanisms, one study in pancreatic cancer patients who had undergone resection found that two of these resistance mechanisms had a cumulative effect. Specifically, patients with low levels of hENT1 and any level of dCK experienced a median overall survival of 16.2 months, while patients with high levels of hENT1 and low levels of dCK had a median overall survival of 33.6 months and patients with high levels of hENT1 and moderate to high levels of dCK had a median overall survival of 61.4 months.

 

Our Solution: Acelarin

 

Our lead product candidate, Acelarin, was designed to overcome the key cancer resistance mechanisms associated with gemcitabine. Acelarin is designed to generate and maintain higher concentrations of the anti-cancer metabolite inside the tumor compared to gemcitabine. This ProTide is comprised of gemcitabine, a phosphate group and a specific combination of aryl, ester and amino acid, also referred to as the phosphoramidate moiety. Acelarin’s distinctive feature is this proprietary moiety, which protects the phosphate group. The moeity also changes the chemical properties of the molecule, enabling Acelarin to enter the cancer cell independent of the presence of the hENT1 transporter. Once Acelarin has entered the cell, the moeity is optimally cleaved off, resulting in “deprotection” and the release of an activated, phosphorylated form of gemcitabine in the cell. Accordingly, the activating enzyme, dCK, which drives the rate-limiting phosphorylation of gemcitabine, is no longer required and the cancer cells’ deficiency of dCK does not result in resistance to Acelarin, as it does with gemcitabine. This activated nucleotide analog, dFdCMP, is then rapidly converted to dFdCDP and then the key anti-cancer metabolite, dFdCTP. Moreover, Acelarin, like the phosphorylated forms of gemcitabine, is not subject to breakdown by CDA, thus bypassing another key resistance mechanism. As a result, Acelarin achieves much higher levels of dFdCTP than does gemcitabine.

 

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The metabolism of Acelarin compared to gemcitabine as described above is illustrated in the following graphic.

 

 

Clinical Data

 

Acelarin has been evaluated in one Phase 1 dose-ranging clinical trial and is being evaluated in four clinical trials across numerous solid tumor cancer indications: Phase 1b for recurrent ovarian cancer; Phase 2 for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer; Phase 1b for biliary cancer; and Phase 3 for pancreatic cancer.

 

The vast majority of patients in the completed Phase 1 trial and the ongoing Phase 1b ovarian trial were resistant or refractory to all existing standards of care and yet a high proportion obtained significant tumor regression or stable disease when treated with Acelarin. Both of these investigator-sponsored trials were conducted in the United Kingdom under a clinical trial authorization, or CTA, by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, or MHRA. These trials were designed to assess the safety, pharmacokinectics and clinical activity of Acelarin as monotherapy or in combination with carboplatin.

 

Acelarin: Phase 1 clinical trial (PRO-001). In the completed Phase 1 trial, 68 patients with advanced solid tumors and metastatic disease that had previously been treated with other systemic anti-cancer therapies received Acelarin as monotherapy at doses ranging from 375 mg/m² to 1,000 mg/m². All of these patients had rapidly progressing recurrent disease, had received on average 2.7 prior lines of chemotherapy, and had exhausted all other standard treatment options. Initial signs of efficacy were evaluated using the standard scoring system known as Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors, or RECIST. A subset of 49 patients received two or more cycles of Acelarin, equivalent to two or more months of therapy, and had at least one follow-up radiographic assessment to measure changes in tumor size. Of these patients, five achieved a partial response, with at least a 30% decrease in tumor size, although not all of these five patients received a final confirmatory scan as technically required by the RECIST criteria for classification as a partial response. Another 33 patients

 

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had tumors that either decreased by up to 30% or increased by less than 20% and were scored as having stable disease. This resulted in an overall disease control rate, the combination of both partial response and stable disease, of 78% in the total 49-patient evaluable population.

 

The following graph illustrates the best percentage change from baseline tumor size in the 49 evaluable patients. Asterisks in the graph below indicate patients who had disease progression as a result of a new lesion rather than an increase in size of any existing measurable tumors. These patients are accordingly not included in the partial response or stable disease classifications. The median progression-free survival in the 49 evaluable patients was 4.0 months with a range of two to 25 months. Of the 33 patients who achieved stable disease, 32 maintained stable disease for at least 12 weeks.

 

 

An analysis was performed on a subset of 18 patients from the same trial who had some form of gynecological cancer: ovarian, endometrial, cervical or uterine cancers. This patient subset had received on average 3.5 prior lines of chemotherapy. Of these patients, 14 were evaluable. Two of these 14 heavily pre-treated patients with gynecological cancer achieved a partial response and an additional 11 achieved stable disease, resulting in a disease control rate of 93% with a median progression-free survival duration of 8.0 months. In the seven evaluable patients with platinum-refractory or platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, the median progression-free survival duration was also 8.0 months.

 

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The following graph illustrates the best percentage change from baseline tumor size in the 14 evaluable patients with gynecological cancer. The asterisk in the graph below indicates the one patient who experienced progressive disease as a result of a new lesion rather than an increase in size of any existing measurable tumor. This patient is therefore not included in the partial response or stable disease classifications.

 

 

 

While not directly comparable to Acelarin, Doxil, or pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, a standard of care for patients with recurrent ovarian cancer, was assessed in the AURELIA clinical trial in patients who had received no more than two prior lines of chemotherapy. Doxil was associated with an overall response rate of 8% and a median progression-free survival duration of 3.5 months.

 

In the Phase 1 trial, Acelarin had a plasma half-life of 8.3 hours, as compared to the plasma half-life of gemcitabine, which ranges from 42 minutes to 94 minutes. The median intracellular levels of the active anti-cancer metabolite, dFdCTP, achieved with Acelarin were over 200 times higher than those reported in the literature for gemcitabine on an equimolar dose comparison, as shown in the graphic below. Equimolar means that all of the doses being compared contained the same number of molecules of Acelarin or gemcitabine.

 

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We observed levels of dFdCTP that were still higher 24 hours after dosing with Acelarin than the maximum reported concentration generated with gemcitabine at its peak level two hours after dosing. Furthermore, the concentration of intracellular dFdCTP over a 24-hour period, as measured by the area under the curve, or AUC, a measure of drug exposure over time, was 139 times higher for Acelarin on an equimolar dose comparison compared to the levels reported for gemcitabine in the literature referenced above. We have combined the data from those four studies in order to derive the curve shown in the graphic below.

 

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We believe that the higher concentrations of dFdCTP results from Acelarin’s ability to bypass the key cancer resistance mechanisms and its favorable pharmacokinetics, or the process by which Acelarin is distributed and metabolized in the body.

 

Acelarin was generally well-tolerated. The most common Grade 3 and Grade 4 treatment-related adverse events, which occurred in 10% to 20% of patients, were fatigue and decreased counts of blood cells, including neutrophils, lymphocytes and platelets. A total of eight dose-limiting toxicities were observed in four patients at doses of 725 mg/m² and above. These included Grade 3 increases in liver enzymes known as transaminases, and Grade 4 decreases in platelets and neutrophils. All of these adverse events were transient and all patients recovered. To date, we have not observed any treatment-related adverse events that have not previously been associated with gemcitabine.

 

Acelarin: Phase 1b clinical trial in combination with carboplatin (PRO-002). In the Phase 1b trial, 25 patients with recurrent ovarian cancer received Acelarin at doses from 500 mg/m² to 750 mg/m² in combination with carboplatin for a maximum of six treatment cycles lasting three weeks each. Patients had received on average three prior lines of chemotherapy and had a median age of 64. Of the 25 patients enrolled, 23 were evaluable and these patients were characterized by their platinum status: seven were platinum-refractory, 10 were platinum-resistant, four were partially platinum-sensitive and two were platinum-sensitive. Efficacy was evaluated using the RECIST standard scoring system. The 23 evaluable patients had received one or more cycles of Acelarin in combination with carboplatin and had at least one follow-up radiographic assessment to measure changes in tumor size. Of these patients, one achieved a complete response, with a complete disappearance of all target lesions, and eight achieved a partial response, with at least a 30% decrease in tumor size, although not all of these patients have received a confirmatory scan. This resulted in an overall response rate of 39%. Another 13 patients had tumors that either decreased by up to 30% or increased by less than 20% and were scored as having stable disease. This resulted in a disease control rate of 96%. The median progression-free survival duration for all 25 patients recruited was 7.3 months and for the evaluable population was 7.4 months.

 

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We expect to report full results from this trial in the second half of 2017.

 

The following graph illustrates the best percentage change from baseline tumor size in the 23 evaluable patients.

 

 

Although gemcitabine has never been approved as a single agent for patients with ovarian cancer, it is approved in combination with carboplatin in patients who have relapsed at least six months after completion of platinum-based therapy. These patients are platinum-sensitive or partially platinum-sensitive. In this population, as a second line treatment, the combination of gemcitabine and carboplatin achieved an overall response rate of 47% and a disease control rate of 85%. Due to the toxicity burden of gemcitabine, carboplatin is limited to a suboptimal dose. Even at the suboptimal dose of carboplatin, the incidence of Grade 3 and Grade 4 neutropenia, or low neutrophils, and thrombocytopaenia, or low platelets, was 71% and 35%, respectively, with this combination.

 

The results of the Phase 1b Acelarin trial suggest that Acelarin can be combined with carboplatin at a higher, more optimal carboplatin dose. In the seven patients with platinum partially sensitive and sensitive disease, the incidence of Grade 3 and Grade 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopaenia was 43% and 0%, respectively. In all 25 patients, the incidence of Grade 3 and Grade 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopaenia was 52% and 32%, respectively.

 

The data from the Phase 1b trials are interim because the Phase 1b trial is still ongoing. Interim data are not necessarily predictive of final results and may change as the data are further examined, more patient data become available and the final clinical study report is prepared and issued. As a result, interim data should be viewed with caution until the final data are available. Initial success with either interim or final data in early-stage clinical trials may not be indicative of results obtained in later-stage trials, and the results of our clinical trials may not meet the level of statistical significance required by the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities for marketing approval. Statistical significance means that an effect is unlikely to have occurred by

 

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chance. Clinical trial results are considered statistically significant when the probability of the results occurring by chance, rather than from the efficacy of the product candidate, is sufficiently low. We plan to design our later stage trials to establish the statistical significance of the efficacy of our ProTides.

 

Acelarin development strategy and ongoing clinical trials

 

Acelarin has been administered to over 130 patients with a wide range of advanced cancers. We are developing Acelarin for multiple indications: in both platinum-resistant and platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer; as first-line treatment in biliary cancer, an indication in which no drug has ever been approved; and as first-line treatment in pancreatic cancer.

 

Our ongoing clinical trials are:

 

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a Phase 2 trial, in up to 64 patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, to establish the optimal dose of Acelarin as monotherapy, with the expectation of interim data in 2018;

 

•

a Phase 1b trial, in up to 24 patients with biliary cancer, to establish the optimal dose of Acelarin in combination with cisplatin as a first-line treatment, with the expectation of interim results in 2018; and

 

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a Phase 3 trial expected to enroll 328 patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer to compare Acelarin to gemcitabine as a first-line treatment, facilitated by the National Cancer Research Institute in the United Kingdom.

 

The Phase 2 trial in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer is being conducted under an Investigational New Drug application, or IND, in the United States and a CTA in the United Kingdom.

 

The Phase 1b trial in biliary cancer and the Phase 3 trial in pancreatic cancer are investigator-sponsored trials and being conducted under a CTA in the United Kingdom.

 

Ovarian cancer

 

Overview. Ovarian cancer is the fifth-leading cause of cancer death in women in the United States. According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, there are approximately 22,000 new cases and 14,000 cancer-related deaths each year from ovarian cancer in the United States. Worldwide, there are approximately 225,000 new cases of ovarian cancer and 140,000 deaths yearly. Surgery and cytotoxic chemotherapies are widely used to treat ovarian cancer; however, the outcomes have changed little over several decades. The five-year survival rate for ovarian cancer patients in the United States has improved only marginally from 42.2% in 1995 to 46.6% in 2009.

 

Limitations of current treatment options in ovarian cancer. First-line therapy for patients with advanced ovarian cancer is typically a combination of a platinum drug, such as carboplatin, and a taxane drug such as paclitaxel. Due to toxicities, most patients undergo a maximum of six cycles, equivalent to four and a half months, of this therapy. Between 62% and 85% of patients will relapse depending on the stage of the disease, and these patients can be divided into four groups depending on length of time between the end of treatment and the relapse. Those with disease progression while receiving platinum-based therapy or who relapse within four weeks of the last platinum dose are defined as platinum-refractory. Those relapsing after more than one month but less than six months are deemed platinum-resistant and have a worse prognosis than partial platinum-sensitive patients, who relapse between six and 12 months, and platinum-sensitive patients, who relapse after more than 12 months.

 

Relapsed platinum-sensitive patients typically receive a platinum-containing agent such as carboplatin or cisplatin in combination with other therapies such as gemcitabine. The addition of gemcitabine to carboplatin in these patients increased the progression-free survival to 8.6 months from 5.8 months with carboplatin alone but

 

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had no significant effect on overall survival. Gemcitabine as monotherapy, although not approved, is used in relapsed, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients resulting in progression-free survival of approximately four months.

 

Recently, a new class of anti-cancer drugs, known as PARP inhibitors, has been approved for the third- or fourth-line treatment of a subset of ovarian cancers, specifically those containing mutations in BRCA genes, or BRCAm, which constitute approximately 15% of ovarian cancer patients. PARP inhibitors have also been approved as maintenance therapy in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer with a complete or partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy.

 

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The market can be simplified into platinum-resistant and platinum-sensitive (including partially platinum-sensitive) ovarian cancer patients. The following illustrations show how platinum-resistance increases with line of therapy and highlights where some existing therapies are being utilized and the ovarian cancer indications we are targeting with Acelarin.

 

 

 

 

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Biliary cancer

 

Overview. Biliary cancers, including cholangiocarcinoma, gallbladder and ampullary carcinoma, are cancers originating in the bile duct, a vessel that transports bile from the liver to the gall bladder and small intestine. Approximately 178,000 new cases of biliary cancer are diagnosed each year worldwide, with approximately 9,000 of those diagnoses in the United States.

 

Limitations of current treatment options in biliary cancer. There are currently no agents approved for the treatment of biliary cancer; however, the worldwide standard of care in biliary cancer patients with advanced or metastatic disease is the combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin. Patients receiving this regimen have a median overall survival of 11.7 months compared to 8.1 months for patients receiving gemcitabine as monotherapy.

 

Pancreatic cancer

 

Overview. Pancreatic cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States with approximately 53,000 new diagnoses and 41,800 deaths in 2016. Worldwide, there were approximately 338,000 new pancreatic cancer diagnoses in 2012. Approximately 85% of patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer have advanced disease at the time of diagnosis, are ineligible for surgery and are treated with chemotherapy. Patients with pancreatic cancer have a poor prognosis, with a five-year survival rate of only 7.7%.

 

Limitations of current treatment options in pancreatic cancer. First-line treatment in pancreatic cancer for patients with a good performance score, which is a standard measure of general well-being, is a combination of 5-FU, oxaliplatin, leucovorin and irinotecan, a treatment regimen known as FOLFIRINOX. Treatment with FOLFIRINOX is, however, associated with high levels of toxicity, so it is generally not recommended for patients without good performance scores. For patients with a less robust performance score, a common first-line treatment is a combination of gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel, or Abraxane^®. For patients who are less fit or who have co-morbidities, the standard of care is single-agent gemcitabine. In separate clinical trials, patients treated with FOLFIRINOX had a median overall survival of 11.1 months and patients treated with the combination of gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel had a median overall survival of 8.5 months. The addition of nab-paclitaxel to gemcitabine resulted in a seven-week improvement in median overall survival compared to gemcitabine alone.

 

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Acelarin preclinical data

 

Prior to progressing our product candidates into clinical trials, we wanted to evaluate in preclinical studies whether Acelarin would: (1) be able to enter cells independent of transporters, including hENT1; (2) generate the active anti-cancer metabolite, dFdCTP, inside cancer cells without the need for the phosphorylating enzyme dCK; and (3) not be susceptible to breakdown by enzymes like CDA. The results of these preclinical studies are summarized below:

 

1. Acelarin is not dependent on transporters to enter cancer cells. Gemcitabine requires the hENT1 transporter to cross the cell membrane. Evidence of this can be seen in cellular assays we completed in which hENT1 was specifically blocked by an inhibitor known as NBTI in human cancer cells. A group including our researchers published a study in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry in which we observed that Acelarin did not require hENT1 in order to enter cells and that NBTI had no effect on intracellular levels of dFdCTP. These results are illustrated below.

 

 

 

(†)

p-value is a conventional statistical method for measuring the statistical significance of preclinical study and clinical trial results. A p-value of 0.05 or less represents statistical significance, meaning that there is a 1-in-20 or less likelihood that the observed results occurred by chance. A p-value of 0.0001 or less means that there is a 1-in-10,000 or less likelihood that the observed results occurred by chance.

 

This finding was confirmed in a separate study where hENT1 was blocked by dipyridamole, a commonly used nucleoside transporter inhibitor, with the result that gemcitabine’s ability to kill the cancer cells was significantly reduced while Acelarin retained its activity.

 

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2. Acelarin does not require rate-limiting activation step. Gemcitabine must be phosphorylated, or activated, inside the cell by the addition of a phosphate group to the molecule in order to exert a cytotoxic effect. This phosphorylation requires the enzyme dCK. In our preclinical studies, inhibition of dCK by a specific inhibitor, known as 2T2D, significantly reduced the phosphorylation step to generate dFdCTP within human cancer cells while Acelarin was unaffected by 2T2D and was still able to generate the same level of the key active anti-cancer metabolite, dFdCTP. These results are illustrated below.

 

 

This observation is consistent with the fact that Acelarin already includes the first phosphate group and thus does not require the action of dCK for activation. Furthermore, we confirmed these findings in a separate study in which we blocked the action of dCK with the inhibitor deoxycytidine, which significantly reduced the ability of gemcitabine to kill the cancer cells while Acelarin retained its activity.

 

3. Acelarin not susceptible to breakdown by CDA. Nucleoside analogs such as gemcitabine are susceptible to breakdown by enzymes such as CDA. The presence of the phosphate on Acelarin protects it from breakdown by CDA. In our preclinical studies, incubation of Acelarin with purified CDA resulted in no degradation of Acelarin over the full 30-minute assay while gemcitabine under these same conditions was almost completely degraded in two minutes.

 

We believe that the ability of Acelarin to generate the active anti-cancer metabolites within the cancer cells in higher concentrations than gemcitabine gives Acelarin the potential to have greater efficacy and to overcome the key cancer cell resistance mechanisms, while avoiding breakdown and release of toxic byproducts.

 

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NUC-3373: A Transformation of 5-FU

 

We have designed our second ProTide, NUC-3373, to overcome the key cancer resistance mechanisms, improve upon the safety profile and reduce the dosing administration burdens associated with the nucleoside analog, 5-FU. We are advancing NUC-3373 in the clinic and developing this new chemical entity as a therapy for colorectal cancer, breast cancer and other solid tumors.

 

5-FU and its Limitations

 

First introduced in 1957, 5-FU is still widely used for the treatment of many cancers, including colorectal, breast, stomach, head and neck, and pancreatic cancers. Approximately 500,000 patients per year in North America receive 5-FU.

 

5-FU requires conversion to the phosphorylated anti-cancer metabolite, fluorodeoxyuridine monophosphate, or FUDR-MP, before it can exert its primary cytotoxic activity through the inhibition of an intracellular enzyme, thymidylate synthase, or TS. TS is required to convert uridine, specifically deoxy-uridine monophosphate, or dUMP, to thymidine, specifically deoxy-thymidine monophosphate, or dTMP, one of the four nucleotides that comprise DNA. The inhibition of TS therefore results in an imbalance in the ratio of the nucleotides dUMP and dTMP, disrupting DNA synthesis and repair, which leads to cancer cell death.

 

Two other drugs have been approved that aim to generate the same active anti-cancer metabolite as 5-FU: fluorodeoxyuridine, or Floxuridine, marketed as FUDR^®, and capecitabine, marketed as Xeloda^®. Like 5-FU, both of these drugs must be converted to FUDR-MP inside the cancer cell in order to exert their primary cytotoxic activity. Capecitabine is a derivative of 5-FU containing a chemical modification of the nucleoside ring, which allows oral dosing of capecitabine.

 

Similar to gemcitabine, the key cancer resistance mechanisms of breakdown, activation and transport have been associated with a poor prognosis to a 5-FU therapeutic regimen. We believe our ProTide, NUC-3373, overcomes these specific key resistance mechanisms as well as dosing administration challenges associated with 5-FU.

 

1. Subject to breakdown. More than 85% of an injected dose of 5-FU is degraded by dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, or DPD, an enzyme largely expressed in the liver. This breakdown destroys most of the drug before it has an opportunity to enter the cancer cell, become activated and exert any therapeutic effect. Furthermore, this breakdown results in the generation of a toxic byproduct, F-BAL, which has been associated with off-target toxicity, such as “hand-foot syndrome,” which is reported in various sources as affecting at least half of patients treated with 5-FU. Hand-foot syndrome is a reddening, swelling, numbness and skin sloughing or peeling on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. In addition, levels of DPD have also been found to be elevated in tumors that are resistant to 5-FU.

 

2. Requires activation within the cancer cell. Once 5-FU enters cells, it must be processed by a series of enzymes to generate the active anti-cancer metabolite, FUDR-MP. FUDR-MP binds to and inhibits TS, leading to decreased levels of thymidine and resulting in cancer cell death. There are several key enzymes involved in the conversion of 5-FU to the active anti-cancer metabolite, FUDR-MP. One of these is orotate phosphoribosyl transferase, or OPRT. Lower levels of OPRT in tumor cells are associated with resistance to 5-FU. Another intracellular enzyme, thymidine phosphorylase, or TP, can reversibly convert 5-FU to fluorodeoxyuridine, or FUDR, an intermediate to the formation of FUDR-MP. Low expression of TP in human cancer cells is associated with resistance to 5-FU. In addition, thymidine kinase, or TK, is the enzyme that converts FUDR to the active anti-cancer metabolite, FUDR-MP. Low expression of TK in human cancer cells is associated with resistance to 5-FU.

 

3. Requires active transport. Similar to gemcitabine and all nucleoside analogs, 5-FU relies on specific transporters in order to cross the cellular membrane. If these transporters are not present or are expressed in low

 

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levels, 5-FU’s ability to enter into the cancer cell will be limited. For example, low expression of the nucleoside transporter, hENT1, has been associated with cancer cell resistance to 5-FU.

 

4. Dosing administration challenges. The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of 5-FU also lead to dosing administration challenges. Pharmacodynamic properties refer to the biochemical and physiological effects of a drug on the human body. 5-FU has a half-life between eight and 14 minutes in plasma. In an effort to counter this short time period, healthcare providers often administer 5-FU as a continuous infusion over extended periods of time, often days. For example, patients being treated for colorectal or pancreatic cancer typically receive their first dose, or loading dose, of 5-FU over 46 hours using a portable infusion pump. This dosing regimen creates burdens for providers, inconveniences patients and contributes additional costs to the healthcare system.

 

Our Solution: NUC-3373

 

We designed our second ProTide, NUC-3373, to overcome the key cancer resistance mechanisms, improve upon the safety profile and reduce the dosing administration burdens associated with the nucleoside analog, 5-FU. NUC-3373 is a nucleotide analog that delivers the same active anti-cancer metabolite, FUDR-MP, that 5-FU aims to generate within a cancer cell, but at far higher concentrations. NUC-3373 is in a Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with advanced solid tumors.

 

Unlike 5-FU, NUC-3373 consists of the active anti-cancer metabolite, FUDR-MP, and a protective phosphoramidate moiety. This moiety allows NUC-3373 to enter the cell without the need for any membrane transporters. Once inside the cancer cell, the phosphoramidate moiety is optimally cleaved off, resulting in deprotection and the release of FUDR-MP. This bypasses the need for any activating enzymes, resulting in significantly higher levels of the active anti-cancer metabolite, which we believe may lead to improved efficacy as compared to 5-FU. In addition, because NUC-3373 avoids breakdown by the enzyme DPD, certain toxic byproducts such as F-BAL are not released, which we believe may lead to an improved tolerability profile as compared to 5-FU. Lastly, we believe that the improved pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile, including the significantly longer half-life of NUC-3373, may result in a more favorable dosing regimen relative to 5-FU.

 

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The metabolism of NUC-3373 compared to 5-FU as described above is illustrated in the following graphic.

 

 

Clinical Data

 

NUC-3373 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 trial in patients with advanced solid tumors. We are planning further clinical trials across a number of indications, including colorectal cancer and metastatic breast cancer.

 

NUC-3373: Phase 1 clinical trial. We have initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial of NUC-3373 in which we are planning to enroll approximately 76 patients. We have currently enrolled over 20 patients with advanced solid tumors. We have completed three dose cohorts and we are continuing with dose-escalation cohorts to establish the optimal dose and frequency of administration. Patients are being dosed with a short infusion of NUC-3373, initially once per week.

 

In this trial, we are measuring various pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters, including plasma concentration of NUC-3373, intracellular concentrations of the active anti-cancer metabolite, FUDR-MP, the ability of NUC-3373 to bind to its target enzyme, TS, and the downstream effects on the levels of dTMP.

 

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We have interim data from 16 of the patients currently enrolled in the trial. The interim data from these 16 patients showed:

 

•

pharmacokinetics were consistent across patients and showed a linear dose response;

 

•

NUC-3373 had a plasma half-life of 9.4 hours compared with the half-life of eight to 14 minutes for 5-FU reported in the literature;

 

•

intracellular FUDR-MP was detected within five minutes after infusion with a half-life of 14.3 hours;

 

•

intracellular FUDR-MP was still detectable up to 48 hours after dosing;

 

•

within one hour after infusion, FUDR-MP had bound to the target enzyme, TS, leading to depletion of intracellular dTMP after two to four hours; and

 

•

the toxic byproduct, FBAL, was undetectable both intracellularly and in the plasma.

 

These interim pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data support our belief that NUC-3373 may have greater anti-cancer activity, an improved safety profile and a lower dosing administration burden than 5-FU. We expect final data from this Phase 1 trial in 2018.

 

NUC-3373 Development Strategy and Planned Clinical Trials

 

We are rapidly developing NUC-3373 for multiple indications and initially targeting advanced colorectal cancer and metastatic breast cancer. We intend to initiate the following clinical trials in 2018:

 

•

a Phase 1b trial in approximately 36 patients with recurrent metastatic colorectal cancer in combination with standard agents that are routinely used in combination with 5-FU, including leucovorin, oxaliplatin and irinotecan. The FDA recently provided authorization, following review of our IND, for this study to proceed;

 

•

a Phase 3 trial in 400 patients with end-stage metastatic colorectal cancer; and

 

•

a Phase 2 trial in 50 metastatic breast cancer patients who have been previously treated with post-anthracycline and taxane therapy.

 

The Phase 1 trial in advanced solid tumors is investigator-sponsored and being conducted under a CTA.

 

Colorectal Cancer Overview

 

In the United States, approximately 135,000 new cases of colorectal cancer and 50,000 deaths due to the disease are expected in 2017. Worldwide, there were an estimated 1.4 million new colorectal cancer cases and 694,000 deaths in 2012, and the global burden is expected to increase to more than 2.2 million new cases and 1.1 million deaths annually by 2030. Most systemic therapies for colorectal cancer include 5-FU, either as monotherapy or in combination with another chemotherapeutic, typically oxaliplatin or irinotecan. Both alone and in combination, 5-FU is the single most effective compound against these tumors. Nevertheless, despite being the standard of care, the effectiveness of 5-FU is modest. Overall response rates are in the range of 10% to 15%.

 

Breast Cancer Overview

 

Approximately one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lifetime. In the United States alone, approximately 253,000 women are expected to be diagnosed with the disease and over 40,000 women are projected to die from it in 2017. On a worldwide basis, approximately 1.7 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012.

 

An estimated 30% of all breast cancers become metastatic and require systemic treatment. There are many available agents to treat metastatic breast cancer and the choice of therapy depends on factors such as tumor burden, the patient’s overall health, prior history of cancer treatment, the importance to the patient of minimizing toxicity, dosing convenience, and the physician’s preferences. Physicians often prefer to treat patients with limited metastatic disease with these agents used as monotherapy in a sequential fashion. Initially, taxanes, such

 

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as docetaxel, paclitaxel and nabpaclitaxel, and anthracyclines, such as doxorubicin and epirubicin, are frequently prescribed. However, these categories of therapeutics must be administered intravenously and are commonly associated with neutropenia, or low neutrophils, and gastrointestinal toxicities. The nucleoside analog, capecitabine, which is a prodrug of 5-FU, has advantages over taxanes and anthracyclines and has become a standard of care for patients with metastatic breast cancer. Recently, the PARP inhibitor olaparib has shown a clinical benefit for metastatic breast cancer patients with a BRCA mutation, who represent approximately 5% of this population.

 

NUC-3373 Preclinical Data

 

NUC-3373 avoids breakdown. In our preclinical studies, NUC-3373, unlike 5-FU, was not susceptible to breakdown by the enzyme DPD, which is a major factor in limiting the efficacy of 5-FU. Therefore, the ability of NUC-3373 to generate the active anti-cancer metabolite, FUDR-MP, should be unaffected by DPD activity and result in much higher intracellular concentrations of FUDR-MP. Furthermore, in patients receiving NUC-3373, the toxic byproduct, FBAL, produced by DPD’s breakdown of 5-FU has not been observed.

 

In addition, a study published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology in 2001 indicated that approximately half of patients with colorectal cancer had tumors that were infected with a type of bacteria called mycoplasma. A 2008 study published in the International Journal of Cancer Research and Treatment highlighted that 5-FU’s activity was reduced by up to 100 times in cancer cell lines infected with mycoplasma. In our preclinical studies, the anti-cancer activity of NUC-3373 was unaffected by the presence of mycoplasma infection.

 

NUC-3373 has greater anti-cancer activity than 5-FU. In preclinical studies, NUC-3373 was not reliant on activating enzymes, including OPRT, TP and TK, all of which are essential for activating the prodrug, 5-FU. For example, we measured the anti-cancer activity of NUC-3373 and 5-FU across a range of human tumor cell lines, including colorectal, ovarian and lung cancers. NUC-3373 had up to 330 times greater activity than 5-FU. The following figure shows the levels of NUC-3373 or 5-FU required, in various tumor cell lines, to kill half of the cancer cells, with the shorter bars representing more potent activity.

 

 

Studies in human colorectal cancer cells showed that NUC-3373 generated levels of the active anti-cancer metabolite, FUDR-MP, 366 times higher than those achieved by administering equivalent amounts of 5-FU. We believe that these increased levels of FUDR-MP could translate into the ability of NUC-3373 to kill various cancer cells at much lower doses than those of 5-FU. Moreover, in a preclinical colorectal cancer xenograft study, NUC-3373 showed a greater ability to reduce tumor weight and volume than 5-FU.

 

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NUC-7738: A Transformation of Cordycepin

 

NUC-7738 is a ProTide transformation of cordycepin, a nucleoside analog that was isolated from the fungus cordyceps militaris in 1950. Since that time, cordycepin has not been successfully developed or approved as a chemotherapy, but has shown potent anti-cancer activity in preclinical studies conducted by other companies and research institutions. Similar to our other ProTide products, NUC-7738 is designed to generate the active anti-cancer metabolite of cordycepin directly inside cells, bypassing the resistance mechanisms of transportation, activation and breakdown. In a preclinical study, we examined the in vitro cytotoxic activity of NUC-7738 across a range of different human cancer cell lines, including leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, T-cell leukemia, multiple myeloma, pancreas, colon, liver and breast cancers, as compared with cordycepin. NUC-7738 was found, in 16 of the 20 cell lines examined in this study, to be more potent than cordycepin when comparing the concentrations of the respective compounds required to kill 50% of the cancer cells. In three leukemia cell lines, NUC-7738 was found to be more than 50-times more potent than cordycepin based on the method of comparison described above.

 

Cordycepin and its limitations

 

Cordycepin must be converted to its active form once inside the cancer cell. Similar to other nucleoside analogs such as gemcitabine, the rate-limiting step of activation requires the addition of a phosphate group, in this case by an enzyme called adenosine kinase, or AK. This phosphorylated form of cordecypin is subsequently converted into its active metabolite, 3’ deoxyadenosine triphosphate, or 3’ dATP. This metabolite interferes with multiple pathways in cancer cells, including purine biosynthesis, RNA synthesis and growth factor signalling pathways, such as mTOR, and therefore inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells.

 

Until cordycepin is converted to its phosphorylated form, it is subject to breakdown by adenosine deaminase, or ADA. Because of this potential for breakdown of cordycepin by ADA, cordycepin must be administered together with inhibitors of ADA. Given the critical role of ADA in multiple human metabolic pathways, we believe the need to inhibit ADA when administering cordycepin represents a significant obstacle to the clinical development of cordycepin. Therefore, we designed NUC-7738 to generate 3’ dATP inside cancer cells while avoiding breakdown by ADA and the requirement for AK.

 

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Our Solution: NUC-7738

 

As a ProTide of cordycepin, NUC-7738, once inside the cancer cell, is rapidly converted into 3’ dATP. There is no need for AK to act on it, a process that has been shown to be rate-limiting. There is also no breakdown by ADA. This results in significantly higher levels of 3’ dATP in cells. We have observed in our preclinical studies that NUC-7738 enters into cancer cells independent of any nucleoside transporters and is converted to 3’ dATP regardless of ADA or AK levels.

 

The metabolism of NUC-7738 compared to cordycepin as described above is illustrated in the following graphic.

 

 

We are targeting NUC-7738 for development in both solid and hematological tumors based on the broad activity seen with cordycepin in preclinical studies. We are currently evaluating NUC-7738 in preclinical toxicology studies and we expect to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial in 2018 in patients with solid tumors, with a second Phase 1 clinical trial planned for 2019 in patients with hematological tumors.

 

Molecular Profiling

 

Healthcare professionals often use molecular-profiling tools to help choose the optimal therapy for patients with cancer. Therapeutic responses vary among patients because cancers are heterogeneous, even for tumors arising from the same site in the body. Molecular diagnostics assays that detect specific biomarkers can provide a framework to classify tumors according to their molecular signature. In turn, the cancer profile can guide the choice of therapy for a particular patient.

 

As part of our clinical development strategy, we are building a molecular profiling tool with the aim of identifying patients who may receive the greatest benefit from our ProTides compared with the current nucleoside analog standards of care. We are working to identify and quantify key biomarkers relevant to Acelarin and NUC-3373, as well as to assess their predictive nature with regard to treatment. In addition, such assays may become relevant to our eventual commercial and reimbursement strategy by helping to pre-identify those patients for whom existing nucleoside analogs are unlikely to provide a significant benefit due to the existence in these patients of one or more cancer-resistance mechanisms.

 

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Manufacturing

 

We currently rely, and expect to continue to rely, on third-party contract manufacturing organizations, or CMOs, for the supply of clinical trial materials of Acelarin, NUC-3373, NUC-7738 and any future product candidates under the current good manufacturing practices, or cGMP, specified by the FDA. cGMP is a regulatory standard for the production of pharmaceuticals to be used in humans. In the future, we intend to also rely on our CMOs to produce sufficient commercial quantities of Acelarin, NUC-3373, NUC-7738 and any future product candidates, if approved. We source key materials from third parties, either directly from suppliers or indirectly through our CMOs. These raw materials are generally available from multiple vendors, which provides us with a robust and cost-effective supply chain.

 

Manufacturing of any product candidate is subject to extensive regulations that impose various procedural and documentation requirements governing recordkeeping, manufacturing processes and controls, personnel, quality control and quality assurance, among others. We expect that all of our CMOs will manufacture Acelarin, NUC-3373 and NUC-7738 under cGMP conditions and in compliance with any similar regulatory requirements outside the United States.

 

Competition

 

The development and commercialization of new drug therapies is highly competitive. While we believe that our scientific knowledge, proprietary ProTide technology and development experience provide us with competitive advantages, we face potential competition from many different sources, including major pharmaceutical, biotechnology and specialty pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, governmental agencies and public and private research institutions. Any ProTide candidates that we successfully develop and commercialize will compete with existing products and new products that may become available in the future. Key product features that would affect our ability to effectively compete with other therapeutics include efficacy, safety profile, price, convenience of administration and level of promotional activity.

 

The most common methods of treating patients with cancer are surgery, radiation and drug therapy, including chemotherapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy and targeted drug therapy. There are a variety of available drug therapies marketed for cancer, including many which are administered in combination to enhance efficacy. We believe that our product candidates, if approved, will principally face competition from other chemotherapies, immunotherapy and targeted drug therapies. In the field of chemotherapy, our competitors include companies that manufacture off-patent chemotherapies, including gemcitabine and 5-FU, as well as companies that have developed new or improved chemotherapies.

 

In addition, our product candidates, if approved, may face competition from cancer therapies developed by other companies using phosphoramidate chemistry, as well as other approved drugs or drugs that may be approved in the future for indications for which we may develop our product candidates.

 

The availability of reimbursement from government and other third-party payors will also significantly affect the pricing and competitiveness of our products. Our competitors also may obtain FDA or other regulatory approval for their products more rapidly than we may obtain approval for ours, which could result in our competitors establishing a strong market position before we are able to enter the market. Many of the companies against which we may compete have significantly greater financial resources and expertise in research and development, manufacturing, preclinical testing, conducting clinical trials, obtaining regulatory approvals and marketing approved products than we do. Smaller or early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large and established companies. These competitors also compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel and establishing clinical trial sites and patient registration for clinical trials, as well as in acquiring technologies complementary to, or necessary for, our programs.

 

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Intellectual Property

 

We actively seek to protect the intellectual property and proprietary technology that we believe is important to our business, including seeking, maintaining, enforcing and defending patent rights for our therapeutics and processes, whether developed internally or licensed from third parties. Our success will depend on our ability to obtain and maintain patent and other protection including data/market exclusivity for our product candidates and platform technology, preserve the confidentiality of our know-how and operate without infringing the valid and enforceable patents and proprietary rights of third parties. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property.”

 

Our policy is to seek to protect our proprietary position, generally by filing an initial priority filing at the U.K. Intellectual Property Office. This is followed by the filing of a patent application under the Patent Co-operation Treaty claiming priority from the initial application(s) and then filing applications for patent grant in territories including, for example, the United States, Europe and Japan. In each case, we determine the strategy and territories required after discussion with our patent attorneys so that we obtain relevant coverage in territories that are commercially important to us and our product candidates. We additionally rely on data exclusivity, market exclusivity and patent term extensions when available. We also rely on trade secrets and know-how relating to our underlying platform technology and product candidates. Prior to making any decision on filing any patent application, we consider with our patent attorneys whether patent protection is the most sensible strategy for protecting the invention concerned or whether the invention should be maintained as confidential.

 

As of August 7, 2017, we owned 175 granted patents (of which five are U.S.-issued patents) and 140 pending patent applications (of which eight are U.S. pending patent applications). Commercially or strategically important non-U.S. jurisdictions in which we hold issued or pending patent applications include: Australia, Canada, China, Eurasia (in the form of a regional patent), Europe (in the form of a regional patent), Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines, Singapore and South Africa. Not included in the patent count is one U.S. patent that is currently in reissue proceedings which were initiated by us for purposes of narrowing the claims covered by such patent.

 

Acelarin

 

We own 33 granted patents covering the composition of matter of our Acelarin product candidate which is a mixture of two diastereoisomers, both of which are therapeutically active. The patent claims are directed to the Acelarin product candidate and to a genus around that candidate. The patent has been granted in major territories, including Europe and Japan. These granted patents are expected to expire in 2024, excluding any patent term adjustments and any patent term extensions. As disclosed above, there is also one patent in the United States for Acelarin that is currently under reissue.

 

We own 37 granted patents, as well as 44 pending patent applications, directed towards Acelarin in single diastereoisomer form. A patent claiming single diastereoisomer Acelarin has been granted in Europe and corresponding patent applications are pending in other major territories, including the United States and Japan. These granted patents and patents arising from the pending applications, if issued, are expected to expire in 2033 and 2035, excluding any patent term adjustments and any patent term extensions.

 

We own patent applications covering formulations of Acelarin (including those used in the clinical trials), methods of making Acelarin (including as a single diastereoisomer), and specific uses of Acelarin, including the use of Acelarin in combination with carboplatin. Patents arising from these pending applications have been filed in all major territories, including the United States, Europe and Japan and are expected to expire in 2035, excluding any patent term adjustments and any patent term extensions.

 

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NUC-3373

 

We own 53 granted patents and 10 pending applications covering the composition of matter of NUC-3373, a genus around NUC-3373 and specific uses of NUC-3373. Those patents were granted in major territories, including the United States, Europe and Japan. These granted patents and patents arising from the pending applications, if issued, are expected to expire in 2032, excluding any patent term adjustments and any patent term extensions.

 

NUC-7738

 

We own 18 pending applications covering the composition of matter of NUC-7738, a genus around NUC-7738 and specific uses of NUC-7738. The patent applications are pending in major territories, including the United States, Europe and Japan. Patents arising from these pending applications, if issued, are expected to expire in 2035 excluding any patent term adjustments and any patent term extensions.

 

Laws and Regulations Regarding Patent Terms

 

The term of individual patents depends upon the legal term of the patents in the countries in which they are obtained. In most countries in which we file, the patent term is 20 years from the earliest date of filing a non-provisional patent application. In the United States, a patent term may be shortened if a patent is terminally disclaimed over another patent or as a result of delays in patent prosecution by the patentee. A patent’s term may be lengthened by a patent term adjustment, which compensates a patentee for administrative delays by the USPTO in granting a patent. The patent term of a European patent is 20 years from its effective filing date, which, unlike in the United States, is not subject to patent term adjustments in the same way as U.S. patents.

 

The term of a patent that covers an FDA-approved drug or biologic may also be eligible for patent term extension, which permits patent term restoration as compensation for the patent term lost during the FDA regulatory review process. The Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984, or the Hatch-Waxman Act, permits a patent term extension of up to five years beyond the expiration of the patent. The length of the patent term extension is related to the length of time the drug or biologic is under regulatory review. Patent extension cannot extend the remaining term of a patent beyond a total of 14 years from the date of product approval and only one patent applicable to an approved drug may be extended. Similar provisions are available in Europe and other jurisdictions to extend the term of a patent that covers an approved drug, for example Supplementary Protection Certificates. In the future, if and when our products receive FDA approval, we expect to apply for patent term extensions on patents covering those products. We anticipate that some of our issued patents may be eligible for patent term extensions but such extensions may not be available and therefore our commercial monopoly may be restricted.

 

Collaboration and License Agreements

 

Cardiff University License

 

In August 2009, we entered into a research, collaboration and license agreement with Cardiff University and University College Cardiff Consultants Ltd., or Cardiff Consultants, which we refer to as the Cardiff Agreement. Under the Cardiff Agreement, we collaborate with Cardiff University in the design, synthesis, characterization and evaluation of phosphoramidate prodrugs, which we refer to as ProTides, based on certain nucleosides. We are responsible for funding certain work performed by Cardiff University and making other payments, which we expect will total approximately £141,350 in aggregate in 2017. Cardiff University and Cardiff Consultants, which is a holder of intellectual property developed by Cardiff University, have assigned to us all rights in the results of the research under the Cardiff Agreement, and agreed not to undertake any research for any competing third party on nucleoside families of interest to us where such research would make use of ProTide-related intellectual property owned or controlled by Cardiff University as of the date of the Cardiff Agreement or which at any time thereafter becomes owned or controlled by Cardiff University, which we refer to as the Cardiff intellectual property, or to grant rights in the Cardiff intellectual property to any third party for use in connection with nucleosides of interest to us.

 

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Upon our completion of the evaluation of the ProTides, we have the right to select one or more of the evaluated ProTides as candidates for potential development of a commercial product. Cardiff University and Cardiff Consultants have granted us an exclusive worldwide license to use for all purposes the Cardiff intellectual property in respect of the nucleoside family of our selected ProTides. The exclusive dealing obligations of Cardiff University and Cardiff Consultants will continue for these nucleoside families.

 

On our filing, or that of a sublicensee, of patent applications resulting from research under the Cardiff Agreement, we will owe Cardiff Consultants certain immaterial payments. If we or our sublicensees develop and commercialize a product resulting from such research, we will owe Cardiff Consultants clinical development milestone payments of up to £1,875,000; provided that such milestone payments are due only with respect to the first product within each nucleoside family to achieve the milestone. We will also owe Cardiff Consultants royalties equal to a low-single digit percentage on our sales of a product resulting from such research. Should we sublicense our right to commercialize a product resulting from the research, we will owe Cardiff Consultants a high-single digit percentage of payments received in consideration of the sublicense.

 

The Cardiff Agreement currently expires on December 31, 2017, although prior expiration dates have been repeatedly extended through the agreement of the parties. Upon expiration, we have the right to extend the period in which we may evaluate products for three months, and for a further three months in exchange for an additional payment. The Cardiff Agreement may also be terminated for an uncured material breach. Licenses to use the Cardiff intellectual property in the development and commercialization of products we have selected for commercialization, and related payment obligations, will survive expiration of the Cardiff Agreement, but not on termination for an uncured material breach.

 

Cardiff ProTides Agreement

 

In October 2009, we entered into a license and collaboration agreement with Cardiff ProTides Ltd., or Cardiff ProTides, which agreement was subsequently amended and restated as an assignment, license and collaboration agreement in March 2012 and was further amended in May 2012, which we refer to as the ProTides Agreement. Under the ProTides Agreement, we collaborated with Cardiff ProTides in the discovery, drug design and in vitro screening of purine and pyrimidine based nucleosides as potential drug candidates. We funded certain work at Cardiff ProTides, and Cardiff ProTides has assigned to us all rights in the results of its research under the ProTides Agreement. Cardiff ProTides also assigned to us patents related to certain compounds of interest, including with respect to Acelarin, and granted us an exclusive, worldwide license, including the right to grant sublicenses, to rights in and technical information related to certain unpatented compounds for all therapeutic, diagnostic, prognostic and prophylactic applications.

 

If we or a sublicensee develop one or more products covered by a valid claim of an assigned patent or patent resulting from Cardiff ProTides’ research, such as Acelarin, we will owe Cardiff ProTides up to approximately $4.5 million in development and approval milestone payments in the aggregate for the first such product. Additional development and approval milestones would be payable for the first additional product in a new nucleoside series covered by a valid claim of an assigned patent or a patent resulting from Cardiff ProTides’ research, although the maximum potential value of such milestone payments is approximately half the value of the milestone payments associated with the first product. We will also owe Cardiff ProTides royalties equal to a percentage in mid- to high-single digits on sales of such products, subject to reduction under certain circumstances. Royalties on sales by sublicensees are set by formula, which formula would be likely to result in a royalty in the mid-single digits.

 

The ProTides Agreement expires, on a country by country basis, on the later of the expiration, invalidity, abandonment, lapsing or rejection of the last valid claim of an assigned patent or patent resulting from Cardiff ProTides’ research, or, if certain technical information licensed from Cardiff ProTides remains confidential or the product is covered by a period of data exclusivity, ten years from the date of first commercial sale of a product in such country. The ProTides Agreement may be sooner terminated on an uncured material breach, bankruptcy of a

 

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party or, by Cardiff ProTides, if we challenge, or assist in a challenge, of the validity or ownership of an assigned patent or patent resulting from Cardiff ProTides’ research, or fail to pay amounts payable under the ProTides Agreement. It may also be sooner terminated where sums payable by us remain unpaid for 45 days after we receive a notice from Cardiff ProTides that the relevant sums are overdue. Upon a termination of the ProTides Agreement, our license rights will terminate except where the breach results from certain breaches by Cardiff ProTides, in which case our license rights continue on a non-exclusive basis, subject to reduced payment obligations. Upon termination of the ProTides Agreement, including as a result of our breach, we will be under an obligation to assign back to Cardiff ProTides the patents which Cardiff ProTides originally assigned to us.

 

Government Regulation and Product Approval

 

FDA Approval Process

 

In the United States, pharmaceutical products are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or the FDC Act, and other federal and state statutes and regulations, govern, among other things, the research, development, testing, manufacture, storage, recordkeeping, approval, labeling, promotion and marketing, distribution, post-approval monitoring and reporting, sampling, and import and export of pharmaceutical products. Failure to comply with applicable U.S. requirements may subject a company to a variety of administrative or judicial sanctions, such as FDA refusal to approve pending new drug applications, or NDAs, warning letters, voluntary product recalls, product seizures, total or partial suspension of production or distribution, injunctions, fines, civil penalties and criminal prosecution.

 

Pharmaceutical product development in the United States typically involves the performance of nonclinical laboratory and animal tests, the submission to the FDA of an IND which must become effective before clinical testing may commence, and adequate, well-controlled clinical trials to establish the safety and effectiveness of the drug for each indication for which FDA approval is sought. Satisfaction of FDA pre-market approval requirements typically takes many years and the actual time required may vary substantially based upon the type, complexity, and novelty of the product or disease.

 

Preclinical tests include laboratory evaluation of product chemistry, formulation, and toxicity, as well as animal studies to assess the characteristics and potential safety and efficacy of the product. The conduct of the preclinical and other nonclinical tests must comply with certain federal regulations and requirements, including good laboratory practices. The results of preclinical testing are submitted to the FDA as part of an IND along with other information, including information about product chemistry, manufacturing and controls, and a proposed clinical trial protocol. Long term nonclinical tests, such as animal tests of reproductive toxicity and carcinogenicity, may continue after the IND is submitted.

 

A 30-day waiting period after the submission of each IND is required prior to the commencement of clinical testing in humans. If the FDA has neither commented on nor questioned the IND within this 30-day period, the clinical trial proposed in the IND may begin.

 

Clinical trials involve the administration of the investigational new drug to healthy volunteers or patients under the supervision of a qualified investigator. Clinical trials must be conducted: (i) in compliance with federal regulations, (ii) in compliance with good clinical practice, or GCP, an international standard meant to protect the rights and health of patients and to define the roles of clinical trial sponsors, administrators, and monitors, and (iii) under protocols detailing the objectives of the clinical trial, the parameters to be used in monitoring safety and the effectiveness criteria to be evaluated. Each protocol and subsequent protocol amendments must be submitted to the FDA as part of the IND.

 

The FDA may order the temporary, or permanent, discontinuation of a clinical trial at any time or impose other sanctions if it believes that the clinical trial either is not being conducted in accordance with FDA requirements or presents an unacceptable risk to the clinical trial patients. The clinical trial protocol and informed consent information for patients in clinical trials must also be submitted to an institutional review board, or IRB,

 

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at each site where a clinical trial will be performed for approval. An IRB may also require the clinical trial at the site to be halted, either temporarily or permanently, for failure to comply with the IRB’s requirements or it may impose other conditions.

 

Clinical trials to support NDAs for marketing approval are typically conducted in three sequential phases, but the phases may overlap. In Phase 1, the initial introduction of the drug into healthy human subjects or patients, the drug is tested to assess metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacological actions, side effects associated with increasing doses, and, if possible, early evidence on effectiveness. Phase 2 usually involves clinical trials in a limited patient population to determine the effectiveness of the drug for a particular indication, dosage tolerance, and optimum dosage, and to identify common adverse effects and safety risks. If a compound demonstrates evidence of effectiveness and an acceptable safety profile in Phase 2 evaluations, Phase 3 clinical trials are undertaken to obtain the additional information about clinical efficacy and safety in a larger number of patients, typically at geographically dispersed clinical trial sites, to permit the FDA to evaluate the overall benefit-risk relationship of the drug and to provide adequate information for the labeling of the drug. In most cases, the FDA requires two adequate and well-controlled Phase 3 clinical trials to demonstrate the efficacy of the drug. A single Phase 3 clinical trial with other confirmatory evidence may be sufficient in rare instances where the clinical trial is a large multicenter trial demonstrating internal consistency and a statistically very persuasive finding of a clinically meaningful effect on mortality, irreversible morbidity, or prevention of a disease with potentially serious outcome, and confirmation of the result in a second clinical trial would be practically or ethically impossible.

 

After completion of the required clinical testing, a new drug application, or NDA, is prepared and submitted to the FDA. FDA approval of the NDA is required before marketing of the product may begin in the United States. The NDA must include the results of all nonclinical, clinical, and other testing and a compilation of data relating to the product’s pharmacology, chemistry, manufacture, and controls. The cost of preparing and submitting an NDA is substantial. Under federal law, the submission of most NDAs is additionally subject to a substantial application user fee and the manufacturer or sponsor under an approved NDA is also subject to annual product and establishment user fees. These fees are typically increased annually.

 

The FDA has 60 days from its receipt of an NDA to determine whether the application will be accepted for filing based on the agency’s threshold determination that it is sufficiently complete to permit substantive review. Once the submission is accepted for filing, the FDA begins an in-depth review. The FDA has agreed to certain performance goals in the review of NDAs. Most such applications for standard review drug products are reviewed within ten to twelve months, while most applications for priority review drugs are reviewed in six to eight months. Priority review can be applied to drugs that the FDA determines offer major advances in treatment, or provide a treatment where no adequate therapy exists. For biologics, priority review is further limited only for drugs intended to treat a serious or life-threatening disease relative to the currently approved products. The review process for both standard and priority review may be extended by FDA for three additional months to consider certain late-submitted information, or information intended to clarify information already provided in the submission.

 

The FDA may also refer applications for novel drug products, or drug products that present difficult questions of safety or efficacy, to an advisory committee, which is typically a panel that includes clinicians and other experts, for review, evaluation, and a recommendation as to whether the application should be approved. The FDA is not bound by the recommendation of an advisory committee, but it generally follows such recommendations. Before approving an NDA, the FDA will typically inspect one or more clinical sites to assure compliance with GCP. Additionally, the FDA will inspect the facility or the facilities at which the drug is manufactured. The FDA will not approve the product unless compliance with current good manufacturing practice requirements, or cGMP, is satisfactory and the NDA contains data that provide substantial evidence that the drug is safe and effective in the indication studied.

 

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After the FDA evaluates the NDA and the manufacturing facilities, it issues either an approval letter or a complete response letter. A complete response letter generally outlines the deficiencies in the submission and may require substantial additional testing, or information, in order for the FDA to reconsider the application. If, or when, those deficiencies have been addressed to the FDA’s satisfaction in a resubmission of the NDA, the FDA will issue an approval letter. The FDA has committed to reviewing such resubmissions in two or six months depending on the type of information included.

 

An approval letter authorizes commercial marketing of the drug with specific prescribing information for specific indications. As a condition of NDA approval, the FDA may require a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy, or REMS, to help ensure that the benefits of the drug outweigh the potential risks. REMS can include medication guides, communication plans for health care professionals, and elements to assure safe and effective use, or ETASU. ETASU can include, but are not limited to, special training or certification for prescribing or dispensing, dispensing only under certain circumstances, special monitoring, and the use of patient registries. The requirement for a REMS can materially affect the potential market and profitability of the drug. Moreover, product approval may require substantial post-approval testing and surveillance to monitor the drug’s safety or efficacy. Once granted, product approvals may be withdrawn if compliance with regulatory requirements is not maintained or problems are identified following initial marketing or any time thereafter.

 

Disclosure of Clinical Trial Information

 

Sponsors of clinical trials of certain FDA-regulated products, including prescription drugs, are required to register and disclose certain clinical trial information on a public website maintained by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Information related to the product, patient population, phase of investigation, clinical trial sites and investigator, and other aspects of the clinical trial is made public as part of the registration. Sponsors are also obligated to disclose the results of these clinical trials after completion if the product candidate is ultimately approved, and disclosure of the results of these clinical trials will be delayed until such approval. Competitors may use this publicly-available information to gain knowledge regarding the design and progress of our development programs.

 

The Hatch-Waxman Act

 

Orange Book Listing. In seeking approval for a drug through an NDA, applicants are required to list with the FDA each patent whose claims cover the applicant’s product. Upon approval of a drug, each of the patents listed in the application for the drug is then published in the FDA’s Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations, commonly known as the Orange Book. Drugs listed in the Orange Book can, in turn, be cited by potential generic competitors in support of approval of an abbreviated new drug application, or ANDA. An ANDA provides for marketing of a drug product that has the same active ingredients in the same strengths and dosage form as the listed drug and has been shown through bioequivalence testing to be therapeutically equivalent to the listed drug. Other than the requirement for bioequivalence testing, ANDA applicants are not required to conduct, or submit results of, nonclinical or clinical tests to prove the safety or effectiveness of their drug product. Drugs approved in this way are commonly referred to as “generic equivalents” to the listed drug, and can often be substituted by pharmacists under prescriptions written for the original listed drug.

 

The ANDA applicant is required to certify to the FDA concerning any patents listed for the approved product in the FDA’s Orange Book. Specifically, the applicant must certify that: (i) the required patent information has not been filed; (ii) the listed patent has expired; (iii) the listed patent has not expired, but will expire on a particular date and approval is sought after patent expiration; or (iv) the listed patent is invalid or will not be infringed by the new product. The ANDA applicant may also elect to submit a section viii statement, certifying that its proposed ANDA label does not contain or carve out any language regarding the patented method-of-use, rather than certify to a listed method-of-use patent.

 

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If the applicant does not challenge the listed patents, the ANDA application will not be approved until all the listed patents claiming the referenced product have expired. A certification that the new product will not infringe the already approved product’s listed patents, or that such patents are invalid, is called a Paragraph IV certification. If the ANDA applicant has provided a Paragraph IV certification to the FDA, the applicant must also send notice of the Paragraph IV certification to the NDA and patent holders once the ANDA has been accepted for filing by the FDA. The NDA and patent holders may then initiate a patent infringement lawsuit in response to the notice of the Paragraph IV certification. The filing of a patent infringement lawsuit within 45 days of the receipt of a Paragraph IV certification automatically prevents the FDA from approving the ANDA until the earlier of 30 months, expiration of the patent, settlement of the lawsuit, or a decision in the infringement case that is favorable to the ANDA applicant.

 

The ANDA application also will not be approved until any applicable non-patent exclusivity listed in the Orange Book for the referenced product has expired.

 

Exclusivity. Upon NDA approval of a new chemical entity, or NCE, which is a drug that contains no active moiety that has been approved by the FDA in any other NDA, that drug receives five years of marketing exclusivity during which time the FDA cannot receive any ANDA seeking approval of a generic version of that drug. Certain changes to a drug, such as the addition of a new indication to the package insert, are associated with a three-year period of exclusivity during which the FDA cannot approval an ANDA for a generic drug that includes the change.

 

An ANDA may be submitted one year before NCE exclusivity expires if a Paragraph IV certification is filed. If there is no listed patent in the Orange Book, there may not be a Paragraph IV certification, and, thus, no ANDA may be filed before the expiration of the exclusivity period.

 

Patent Term Extension. After NDA approval, owners of relevant drug patents may apply for up to a five-year patent term extension. The allowable patent term extension is calculated as half of the drug’s testing phase—the time between IND submission and NDA submission—and all of the review phase—the time between NDA submission and approval up to a maximum of five years. The time can be shortened if FDA determines that the applicant did not pursue approval with due diligence. The total patent term after the extension may not exceed 14 years.

 

For patents that might expire during the application phase, the patent owner may request an interim patent extension. An interim patent extension increases the patent term by one year and may be renewed up to four times. For each interim patent extension granted, the post-approval patent extension is reduced by one year. The director of the PTO must determine that approval of the drug covered by the patent for which a patent extension is being sought is likely. Interim patent extensions are not available for a drug for which an NDA has not been submitted.

 

Advertising and Promotion

 

Once an NDA is approved, a product will be subject to certain post-approval requirements. For instance, FDA closely regulates the post-approval marketing and promotion of drugs, including standards and regulations for direct-to-consumer advertising, off-label promotion, industry-sponsored scientific and educational activities and promotional activities involving the internet. Drugs may be marketed only for the approved indications and in accordance with the provisions of the approved labeling. Changes to some of the conditions established in an approved application, including changes in indications, labeling, or certain manufacturing processes or facilities, require submission and FDA approval of a new NDA or NDA supplement before the change can be implemented. An NDA supplement for a new indication typically requires clinical data similar to that in the original application, and the FDA uses the same procedures and actions in reviewing NDA supplements as it does in reviewing NDAs.

 

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Adverse Event Reporting and cGMP Compliance

 

Adverse event reporting and submission of periodic reports is required following FDA approval of an NDA. The FDA also may require post-marketing testing, sometimes called Phase 4 testing, REMS, and surveillance to monitor the effects of an approved product, or the FDA may place conditions on an approval that could restrict the distribution or use of the product. In addition, quality-control, drug manufacture, packaging, and labeling procedures, among other things, must continue to conform to cGMP after approval. Drug manufacturers and certain of their subcontractors are required to register their establishments with FDA and certain state agencies. Registration with the FDA subjects entities to periodic unannounced inspections by the FDA, during which the agency inspects manufacturing facilities to assess compliance with cGMP. Accordingly, manufacturers must continue to expend time, money and effort in the areas of production, quality control and record keeping to maintain compliance with cGMP. Regulatory authorities may impose a range of enforcement actions, including bringing a seizure and injunction in court, withdraw product approvals or request a product recall if a company fails to comply with cGMP requirements.

 

Pediatric Information

 

Under the Pediatric Research Equity Act, or PREA, NDAs or supplements to NDAs must contain data to assess the safety and effectiveness of the drug for the claimed indications in all relevant pediatric subpopulations and to support dosing and administration for each pediatric subpopulation for which the drug is safe and effective. The sponsor must submit an initial Pediatric Study Plan, or PSP, within 60 days of an end-of-Phase 2 meeting or as may be agreed between the sponsor and the FDA. The initial PSP must include an outline of the pediatric study or studies that the sponsor plans to conduct, including study objectives and design, age groups, relevant endpoints and statistical approach, or a justification for not including such detailed information, and any request for a deferral of pediatric assessments or a full or partial waiver of the requirement to provide data from pediatric studies along with supporting information. The FDA and the sponsor must reach agreement on the PSP. A sponsor can submit amendments to an agreed-upon initial PSP at any time if changes to the pediatric plan need to be considered based on data collected from nonclinical studies, early phase clinical trials or other clinical development programs. The FDA may grant full or partial waivers, or deferrals, for submission of data.

 

The Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act, or BPCA, provides NDA holders a six-month extension of any exclusivity—patent or non-patent—for a drug if certain conditions are met, including satisfaction of a pediatric trial as described above. Conditions for exclusivity include the FDA’s determination that information relating to the use of a new drug in the pediatric population may produce health benefits in that population, the FDA making a written request for pediatric clinical trials, and the applicant agreeing to perform, and reporting on, the requested clinical trials within the statutory timeframe. Applications under the BPCA are treated as priority applications, with all of the benefits that designation confers.

 

Special Protocol Assessment

 

A company may reach an agreement with FDA under the Special Protocol Assessment, or SPA, process as to the required design and size of clinical trials intended to form the primary basis of an efficacy claim. Under the FDC Act and FDA guidance implementing the statutory requirement, an SPA is generally binding upon the FDA except in limited circumstances, such as if the FDA identifies a substantial scientific issue essential to determining safety or efficacy after the clinical trial begins, public health concerns emerge that were unrecognized at the time of the protocol assessment, the sponsor and FDA agree to the change in writing, or if the clinical trial sponsor fails to follow the protocol that was agreed upon with the FDA.

 

Expedited Review and Approval

 

The FDA has various programs, including Fast Track, priority review, accelerated approval and breakthrough designation which are intended to expedite or simplify the process for reviewing drugs or provide for approval on the basis of surrogate endpoints. Even if a drug qualifies for one or more of these programs, the

 

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FDA may later decide that the drug no longer meets the conditions for qualification or that the time period for FDA review or approval will not be shortened. Generally, drugs that may be eligible for these programs are those for serious or life-threatening conditions, those with the potential to address unmet medical needs, or those that offer meaningful benefits over existing treatments. For example, Fast Track is a process designed to facilitate the development, and expedite the review, of drugs to treat serious diseases and fill an unmet medical need. The request may be made at the time of IND submission and generally no later than the pre-NDA meeting. The FDA will respond within 60 calendar days of receipt of the request. Priority review, which is requested at the time of NDA submission, is designed to give drugs that offer major advances in treatment or provide a treatment where no adequate therapy exists an initial review within six months as compared to a standard review time of ten months. Although Fast Track and priority review do not affect the standards for approval, the FDA will attempt to facilitate early and frequent meetings with a sponsor of a Fast Track designated drug and expedite review of the application for a drug designated for priority review. Accelerated approval provides an earlier approval of drugs to treat serious diseases, and that fill an unmet medical need based on a surrogate endpoint, which is a laboratory measurement or physical sign used as an indirect or substitute measurement representing a clinically meaningful outcome. Discussions with the FDA about the feasibility of an accelerated approval typically begin early in the development of the drug in order to identify, among other things, an appropriate endpoint. As a condition of approval, the FDA may require that a sponsor of a drug receiving accelerated approval perform post-marketing clinical trials to confirm the appropriateness of the surrogate marker clinical trial.

 

Another expedited program is that for Breakthrough Therapy. A Breakthrough Therapy designation is designed to expedite the development and review of drugs that are intended to treat a serious condition where preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the drug may demonstrate substantial improvement over available therapy on a clinically significant endpoint(s). A sponsor may request Breakthrough Therapy designation at the time that the IND is submitted, or no later than at the end-of-Phase 2 meeting. The FDA will respond to a Breakthrough Therapy designation request within 60 days of receipt of the request. A drug that receives Breakthrough Therapy designation is eligible for all fast track designation features, intensive guidance on an efficient drug development program, beginning as early as Phase 1 and commitment from the FDA involving senior managers.

 

Regulation of Companion Diagnostic Devices

 

If we decide that a diagnostic test would provide useful information for patient selection or if the FDA requires us to develop such a test, we may work with a collaborator to develop an in vitro diagnostic, or companion test. The FDA regulates in vitro diagnostic tests as medical devices, and the type of regulation to which such a test will be subjected will depend in part on a risk assessment by the FDA as well as a determination of whether the test is intended to yield results that would be helpful to know versus one that the FDA or we believe is necessary to know for the safe and effective use of our drugs under development.

 

The FDA issued Guidance on In-Vitro Companion Diagnostic Devices in August 2014, which is intended to assist companies developing in vitro companion diagnostic devices and companies developing therapeutic products that depend on the use of a specific in vitro companion diagnostic for the safe and effective use of the product. The FDA defined an in vitro companion diagnostic device, or IVD companion diagnostic device, as a device that provides information that is essential for the safe and effective use of a corresponding therapeutic product. The use of an IVD companion diagnostic device with a therapeutic product will be stipulated in the instructions for use in the labeling of both the diagnostic device and the corresponding therapeutic product, including the labeling of any generic equivalents of the therapeutic product. The FDA expects that the therapeutic sponsor will address the need for an approved or cleared IVD companion diagnostic device in its therapeutic product development plan and that, in most cases, the therapeutic product and its corresponding companion diagnostic will be developed contemporaneously.

 

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Europe/Rest of World Government Regulation

 

In addition to regulations in the United States, we are and will be subject, either directly or through our distribution partners, to a variety of regulations in other jurisdictions governing, among other things, clinical trials and commercial sales and distribution of our products, if approved.

 

Whether or not we obtain FDA approval for a product, we must obtain the requisite approvals from regulatory authorities in non-U.S. countries prior to the commencement of clinical trials or marketing of the product in those countries. Certain countries outside of the United States have a process that requires the submission of a clinical trial application much like an IND prior to the commencement of human clinical trials. In Europe, for example, a clinical trial authorization, or CTA, must be submitted to the competent national health authority and to independent ethics committees in each country in which a company plans to conduct clinical trials. Once the CTA is approved in accordance with a country’s requirements, clinical trials may proceed in that country.

 

The requirements and process governing the conduct of clinical trials, product licensing, pricing and reimbursement vary from country to country, even though there is already some degree of legal harmonization in the E.U. member states resulting from the national implementation of underlying E.U. legislation. In all cases, the clinical trials are conducted in accordance with GCP and other applicable regulatory requirements.

 

To obtain regulatory approval of a new drug, or medicinal product, in the European Union a sponsor must obtain approval of a marketing authorization application, or MAA. The way in which a medicinal product can be approved in the European Union depends on the nature of the medicinal product.

 

The centralized procedure results in a single MAA granted by the European Commission that is valid across the European Union, as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The centralized procedure is compulsory for human drugs that are: (i) derived from biotechnology processes, such as genetic engineering, (ii) contain a new active substance indicated for the treatment of certain diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune and other immune dysfunctions and viral diseases, (iii) officially designated “orphan drugs” (drugs used for rare human diseases) and (iv) advanced-therapy medicines, such as gene-therapy, somatic cell-therapy or tissue-engineered medicines. The centralized procedure may at the request of the applicant also be used for human drugs which do not fall within the above mentioned categories if the human drug (a) contains a new active substance which, on the date of entry into force of this Regulation, was not authorized in the Community; or (b) the applicant shows that the medicinal product constitutes a significant therapeutic, scientific or technical innovation or that the granting of authorization in the centralized procedure is in the interests of patients or animal health at European Community level.

 

Under the centralized procedure in the European Union, the maximum timeframe for the evaluation of a MAA by the EMA is 210 days (excluding clock stops, when additional written or oral information is to be provided by the applicant in response to questions asked by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, or CHMP), with adoption of the actual marketing authorization by the European Commission thereafter. Accelerated evaluation might be granted by the CHMP in exceptional cases, when a medicinal product is expected to be of a major public health interest from the point of view of therapeutic innovation, defined by three cumulative criteria: the seriousness of the disease to be treated; the absence of an appropriate alternative therapeutic approach, and anticipation of exceptional high therapeutic benefit. In this circumstance, EMA ensures that the evaluation for the opinion of the CHMP is completed within 150 days and the opinion issued thereafter.

 

The mutual recognition procedure, or MRP, for the approval of human drugs is an alternative approach to facilitate individual national marketing authorizations within the European Union. Basically, the MRP may be applied for all human drugs for which the centralized procedure is not obligatory. The MRP is applicable to the majority of conventional medicinal products, and is based on the principle of recognition of an already existing national marketing authorization by one or more member states.

 

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The characteristic of the MRP is that the procedure builds on an already existing marketing authorization in a member state of the European Union that is used as reference in order to obtain marketing authorizations in other E.U. member states. In the MRP, a marketing authorization for a drug already exists in one or more E.U. member states and subsequently marketing authorization applications are made in other E.U. member states by referring to the initial marketing authorization. The member state in which the marketing authorization was first granted will then act as the reference member state. The member states where the marketing authorization is subsequently applied for act as concerned member states.

 

The MRP is based on the principle of the mutual recognition by E.U. member states of their respective national marketing authorizations. Based on a marketing authorization in the reference member state, the applicant may apply for marketing authorizations in other member states. In such case, the reference member state shall update its existing assessment report about the drug in 90 days. After the assessment is completed, copies of the report are sent to all member states, together with the approved summary of product characteristics, labeling and package leaflet. The concerned member states then have 90 days to recognize the decision of the reference member state and the summary of product characteristics, labeling and package leaflet. National marketing authorizations shall be granted within 30 days after acknowledgement of the agreement.

 

Should any Member State refuse to recognize the marketing authorization by the reference member state, on the grounds of potential serious risk to public health, the issue will be referred to a coordination group. Within a timeframe of 60 days, member states shall, within the coordination group, make all efforts to reach a consensus. If this fails, the procedure is submitted to an EMA scientific committee for arbitration. The opinion of this EMA Committee is then forwarded to the Commission, for the start of the decision making process. As in the centralized procedure, this process entails consulting various European Commission Directorates General and the Standing Committee on Human Medicinal Products or Veterinary Medicinal Products, as appropriate.

 

For other countries outside of the European Union, such as countries in Eastern Europe, Latin America or Asia, the requirements governing the conduct of clinical trials, product licensing, pricing and reimbursement vary from country to country. In all cases, again, the clinical trials are conducted in accordance with GCP and the other applicable regulatory requirements.

 

If we fail to comply with applicable foreign regulatory requirements, we may be subject to, among other things, fines, suspension of clinical trials, suspension or withdrawal of regulatory approvals, product recalls, seizure of products, operating restrictions and criminal prosecution.

 

Healthcare Reform

 

There have been and continue to be legislative and regulatory changes to the healthcare system in the United States that could affect our future results of operations. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, collectively referred to as the ACA, includes measures that have significantly changed health care financing by both governmental and private insurers. The provisions of the ACA of importance to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry are, among others, the following:

 

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an annual, nondeductible fee on any entity that manufactures or imports certain branded prescription drugs agents and biologic agents, which is apportioned among these entities according to their market share in certain government healthcare programs;

 

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an increase in the rebates a manufacturer must pay under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program to 23.1% and 13% of the average manufacturer price for branded and generic drugs, respectively;

 

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a new Medicare Part D coverage gap discount program, in which manufacturers must agree to offer 50% point-of-sale discounts to negotiated prices of applicable brand drugs to eligible beneficiaries during their coverage gap period, as a condition for the manufacturer’s outpatient drugs to be covered under Medicare Part D;

 

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extension of manufacturers’ Medicaid rebate liability to covered drugs dispensed to individuals who are enrolled in Medicaid managed care organizations, unless the drug is subject to discounts under the 340B drug discount program;

 

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a new methodology by which rebates owed by manufacturers under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program are calculated for drugs that are inhaled, infused, instilled, implanted or injected;

 

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expansion of eligibility criteria for Medicaid programs by, among other things, allowing states to offer Medicaid coverage to additional individuals and by adding new mandatory eligibility categories for certain individuals with income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level, thereby potentially increasing manufacturers’ Medicaid rebate liability;

 

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expansion of the entities eligible for discounts under the Public Health Service pharmaceutical pricing program;

 

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new requirements under the federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act for drug manufacturers to report information related to payments and other transfers of value made to physicians and teaching hospitals as well as ownership or investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members;

 

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a new Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to oversee, identify priorities in, and conduct comparative clinical effectiveness research, along with funding for such research;

 

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creation of the Independent Payment Advisory Board, which, if and when impaneled, will have authority to recommend certain changes to the Medicare program that could result in reduced payments for prescription drugs; and

 

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establishment of a Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation at CMS to test innovative payment and service delivery models to lower Medicare and Medicaid spending, potentially including prescription drug spending.

 

There have been judicial and Congressional challenges to certain aspects of the ACA, and we expect the current administration and Congress will likely continue to seek legislative and regulatory changes, including repeal and replacement of certain provisions of the ACA. In January 2017, President Trump signed an Executive Order directing federal agencies with authorities and responsibilities under the ACA to waive, defer, grant exemptions from, or delay the implementation of any provision of the ACA that would impose a fiscal or regulatory burden on states, individuals, healthcare providers, health insurers, or manufacturers of pharmaceuticals or medical devices. The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation known as the American Health Care Act of 2017 in May 2017. More recently, the Senate Republicans introduced and then updated a bill to replace the ACA known as the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017. The Senate Republicans also introduced legislation to repeal the ACA without companion legislation to replace it, and a “skinny” version of the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017. Each of these measures was rejected by the full Senate. Congress will likely consider other legislation to replace elements of the ACA. It is uncertain whether the American Health Care Act or similar legislation will become law or how any future healthcare reform legislation will impact our business.

 

In addition, other federal health reform measures have been proposed and adopted in the United States since the ACA was enacted. For example, as a result of the Budget Control Act of 2011, providers are subject to Medicare payment reductions of 2% per fiscal year through 2025 unless additional Congressional action is taken. Further, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 reduced Medicare payments to several providers and increased the statute of limitations period for the government to recover overpayments from providers from three to five years. Further, there has been heightened governmental scrutiny over the manner in which manufacturers set prices for their marketed products, which have resulted in several recent Congressional inquiries and proposed federal and state legislation designed to, among other things, bring more transparency to product pricing, contain the cost of drugs, review the relationship between pricing and manufacturer patient programs, and reform government program reimbursement methodologies for products.

 

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Moreover, payment methodologies may be subject to changes in healthcare legislation and regulatory initiatives. For example, CMS may develop new payment and delivery models, such as bundled payment models. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, set a goal of moving 30% of Medicare payments to alternative payment models tied to the quality or value of services by 2016 and 50% of Medicare payments into these alternative payment models by the end of 2018. In March 2017, HHS announced that it has achieved its goal for 2016. In addition, recently there has been heightened governmental scrutiny over the manner in which manufacturers set prices for their marketed products. We expect that additional U.S. federal healthcare reform measures will be adopted in the future, any of which could limit the amounts that the U.S. federal government will pay for healthcare products and services, which could result in reduced demand for our product candidates or additional pricing pressures.

 

Individual states in the United States have also become increasingly aggressive in passing legislation and implementing regulations designed to control pharmaceutical and biological product pricing, including price or patient reimbursement constraints, discounts, restrictions on certain product access and marketing cost disclosure and transparency measures, and, in some cases, designed to encourage importation from other countries and bulk purchasing. Legally mandated price controls on payment amounts by third-party payors or other restrictions could compromise our ability to profitably commercialize any of our product candidates, if approved. In addition, regional healthcare authorities and individual hospitals are increasingly using bidding procedures to determine what pharmaceutical products and which suppliers will be included in their prescription drug and other healthcare programs. This could reduce the ultimate demand for our products or put pressure on our product pricing, which could negatively affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.

 

In the European Union, similar political, economic and regulatory developments may affect our ability to profitably commercialize any of our product candidates, if approved. In addition to continuing pressure on prices and cost containment measures, legislative developments at the European Union or member state level may result in significant additional requirements or obstacles that may increase our operating costs. The delivery of healthcare in the European Union, including the establishment and operation of health services and the pricing and reimbursement of medicines, is almost exclusively a matter for national, rather than European Union, law and policy. National governments and health service providers have different priorities and approaches to the delivery of health care and the pricing and reimbursement of products in that context. In general, however, the healthcare budgetary constraints in most EU member states have resulted in restrictions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines by relevant health service providers. Coupled with increasing European Union and national regulatory burdens on those wishing to develop and market products, this could prevent or delay marketing approval of our product candidates, restrict or regulate post-approval activities and affect our ability to commercialize any products for which we obtain marketing approval. In international markets, reimbursement and healthcare payment systems vary significantly by country, and many countries have instituted price ceilings on specific products and therapies.

 

Other Healthcare Laws

 

Physicians, other healthcare providers, and third-party payors will play a primary role in the recommendation and prescription of any product candidates for which we obtain marketing approval. Although we currently do not have any products on the market, our current and future business operations are and will be subject to various U.S. federal and state and other foreign fraud and abuse laws and other healthcare laws and regulations. These laws and regulations may impact, among other things, our arrangements with third-party payors, healthcare professionals who participate in our clinical research programs, healthcare professionals and others who purchase, recommend or prescribe our approved products, and our proposed sales, marketing, distribution, and education programs. The U.S. federal and state healthcare laws and regulations that may affect our ability to operate include:

 

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the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits persons from, among other things, knowingly and willfully soliciting, receiving, offering or paying anything of value, directly or indirectly, in cash or in kind, to induce or reward either the referral of an individual for, or the purchase, order or recommendation of, any good or service, for which payment may be made under federally funded healthcare programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid;

 

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the federal civil and criminal false claims laws, including, without limitation, the federal civil monetary penalties law and the civil False Claims Act (which can be enforced by private citizens through qui tam actions), prohibit individuals or entities from, among other things, knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, false or fraudulent claims for payment of federal funds, and knowingly making, or causing to be made, a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim to avoid, decrease or conceal an obligation to pay money to the federal government;

 

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the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, which imposes criminal liability for executing or attempting to execute a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program and creates federal criminal laws that prohibit knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering up a material fact or making any materially false statement in connection with the delivery of or payment for healthcare benefits, items or services;

 

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HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009, or HITECH, and its implementing regulations, which imposes certain obligations, including mandatory contractual terms, with respect to safeguarding the privacy, security and transmission of individually identifiable health information without the appropriate authorization by entities subject to the law, such as healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses and their respective business associates that perform certain functions or activities that involve the use or disclosure of protected health information on their behalf;

 

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the federal transparency requirements under the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, created under the ACA, which requires certain manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies reimbursed under Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP to report to HHS information related to payments and other transfers of value provided to physicians and teaching hospitals and physician ownership and investment interests; and

 

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analogous state laws and regulations, such as state anti-kickback and false claims laws, that impose similar restrictions and may apply to items or services reimbursed by non-governmental third-party payors, including private insurers; state laws that require pharmaceutical companies to implement compliance programs, comply with the pharmaceutical industry’s voluntary compliance guidelines and the relevant compliance guidance promulgated by the federal government, or to track and report gifts, compensation and other remuneration provided to physicians and other health care providers; and state health information privacy and data breach notification laws, which govern the collection, use, disclosure, and protection of health-related and other personal information, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and often are not pre-empted by HIPAA, thus complicating compliance efforts.

 

We will be required to spend substantial time and money to ensure that our business arrangements with third parties comply with applicable healthcare laws and regulations. In the United States, healthcare reform legislation has strengthened these federal and state healthcare laws. For example, the ACA amends the intent requirement of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute and criminal healthcare fraud statutes to clarify that liability under these statutes does not require a person or entity to have actual knowledge of the statutes or a specific intent to violate them. Moreover, the ACA provides that the government may assert that a claim that includes items or services resulting from a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the civil False Claims Act. Because of the breadth of these laws and the narrowness of the statutory exceptions and safe harbors available, it is possible that some of our business activities could be subject to challenge under one or more of such laws.

 

Violations of these laws can subject us to criminal, civil and administrative sanctions including monetary penalties, damages, fines, disgorgement, individual imprisonment, and exclusion from participation in government funded healthcare programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, additional reporting requirements and oversight if we become subject to a corporate integrity agreement or similar agreement to resolve allegations of non-compliance with these laws, reputational harm, and we may be required to curtail or restructure our operations. Moreover, we expect that there will continue to be federal and state laws and regulations, proposed and implemented, that could impact our future operations and business.

 

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Coverage and Reimbursement

 

Significant uncertainty exists as to the coverage and reimbursement status of any products for which we may obtain regulatory approval. Sales of any of our product candidates, if approved, will depend, in part, on the extent to which the costs of the products will be covered by third-party payors, including government healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, and private payors, such as commercial health insurers and managed care organizations. Third-party payors determine which drugs they will cover and the amount of reimbursement they will provide for a covered drug. In the United States, there is no uniform system among payors for making coverage and reimbursement decisions. In addition, the process for determining whether a payor will provide coverage for a product may be separate from the process for setting the price or reimbursement rate that the payor will pay for the product once coverage is approved. Third-party payors may limit coverage to specific products on an approved list, or formulary, which might not include all of the FDA-approved products for a particular indication.

 

In order to secure coverage and reimbursement for our products, if approved for sale, we may need to conduct expensive pharmacoeconomic studies in order to demonstrate the medical necessity and cost-effectiveness of the product, in addition to the costly studies required to obtain FDA or other comparable regulatory approvals. Even if we conduct pharmacoeconomic studies, our product candidates may not be considered medically necessary or cost-effective by payors. Further, a payor’s decision to provide coverage for a product does not imply that an adequate reimbursement rate will be approved.

 

The containment of healthcare costs has become a priority of federal, state and foreign governments, and the prices of drugs have been a focus in this effort. The U.S. government, state legislatures, and foreign governments have shown significant interest in implementing cost-containment programs to limit the growth of government-paid healthcare costs, including price controls, restrictions on reimbursement, and requirements for substitution of generic products for branded prescription drugs. For example, in the United States, the ACA contains provisions that may reduce the profitability of products, including, for example, increased rebates for products sold to Medicaid programs, extension of Medicaid rebates to Medicaid managed care plans, mandatory discounts for certain Medicare Part D beneficiaries and annual fees based on pharmaceutical companies’ share of sales to federal health care programs. CMS may develop new payment and delivery models, such as bundled payment models. For example, HHS set a goal of moving 30% of Medicare payments to alternative payment models tied to the quality or value of services by 2016 and 50% of Medicare payments into these alternative payment models by the end of 2018. Adoption of government controls and measures, and tightening of restrictive policies in jurisdictions with existing controls and measures, could limit payments for our products.

 

The marketability of any products for which we receive regulatory approval for commercial sale may suffer if the government and third-party payors fail to provide adequate coverage and reimbursement. The focus on cost containment measures in the United States has increased and we expect will continue to increase the pressure on pharmaceutical pricing. Coverage policies and third-party reimbursement rates may change at any time. Even if we attain favorable coverage and reimbursement status for one or more products for which we receive regulatory approval, less favorable coverage policies and reimbursement rates may be implemented in the future.

 

Employees

 

As of September 1, 2017, we had 16 full-time employees. We have never had a work stoppage and none of our employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements or represented by a labor union. We believe our employee relations are good.

 

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Facilities

 

Our corporate headquarters and most of our operations, are located at 10 Lochside Place, Edinburgh, EH12 9RG, United Kingdom. The lease for this space expires September 30, 2017 and we are in the process of entering into a lease for a new corporate headquarters to be located at 3 Lochside Way, Edinburgh, EH12 9DT, United Kingdom, which has a total leasable area of approximately 5,632 square feet. We believe that our office facilities in the United Kingdom are sufficient to meet our current needs.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

From time to time, we may be party to litigation that arises in the ordinary course of our business. We do not have any pending litigation that, separately or in the aggregate, would, in the opinion of management, have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

 

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MANAGEMENT

 

The following table sets forth the names, ages and positions of our executive officers and directors:

 

Name		Age				Position
Executive Officers
Hugh Griffith			49			Chief Executive Officer and Director
Christopher Wood			71			Chairman and Chief Medical Officer
Donald Munoz			48			Chief Financial Officer
Non-Executive Directors
Isaac Cheng			42			Non-Executive Director
James Healy			52			Non-Executive Director
Martin Mellish			59			Non-Executive Director
Rafaèle Tordjman			48			Non-Executive Director

 

Executive Officers

 

Hugh Griffith is our co-founder and has served as our Chief Executive Officer and as a member of our board of directors since our operations began in March 2008. In addition, he currently serves as a non-executive director of EdixoMed Limited and MedAnnex Limited, biotech companies which he co-founded in 2009. He also serves as director of Alida Capital International, a biotech business angel syndicate that he formed in 2009. Prior to founding NuCana, Mr. Griffith was Chief Operating Officer of Bioenvision, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, from July 2004 until December 2007, when it was acquired by Genzyme Corporation (now Sanofi). He previously served as Commercial Director of Bioenvision, Inc. from September 2002 to June 2004. Before that, Mr. Griffith held several senior commercial positions at Quantanova Limited, a biopharmaceutical company, from January 2002 to July 2002, Abbott Laboratories (now AbbVie Inc.) from October 1995 to December 2001 and Warner-Lambert Company (now Pfizer Inc.) from April 1992 to October 1995. He currently serves on the advisory board of the Scottish Lifesciences Association. Mr. Griffith received an M.B.A. from Cardiff Business School and a B.Sc. Honours in Biology from the University of Stirling. We believe that Mr. Griffith possesses specific attributes that qualify him to serve as a member of our board of directors, including the perspective and experience he brings as our Chief Executive Officer, which provides historic knowledge of our company, operational expertise and continuity to our board of directors, and his significant experience in the biopharmaceutical industry in positions including chief executive officer, chief operating officer and executive director.

 

Christopher Wood is our co-founder and has served as a member of our board of directors since our founding, as our Chairman since 2008 and as our Chief Medical Officer since July 2017. Dr. Wood also currently serves as chairman of several biopharmaceutical or biotechnology companies including: Edixomed Limited, MedAnnex Limited and OncoBioPharm Limited. In addition, he is a director of MiNA Therapeutics Limited, a biotechnology company. Prior to joining our board of directors, Dr. Wood was a co-founder of Bioenvision, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, and served as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from 2000 until 2007, when it was acquired by Genzyme Corporation (now Sanofi). From 1995 through 1999, Dr. Wood was chairman of the board and Chief Executive of Eurobiotech, Inc. From 1989 through 1990, Dr. Wood was co-founder and director of Genethics Ltd until it was acquired by Proteus International plc. Dr. Wood co-founded and served as chairman from 1986 to 1992 of Medirace Ltd., a biotechnology company, which later became Medeva PLC and was acquired by Celltech Group PLC (now UCB). From 1979 to 1991, Dr. Wood was a surgical oncologist at The Royal Postgraduate Medical School and a consultant surgeon at Hammersmith Hospital, both in London, England. Dr. Wood is an honorary Professor at Imperial College London, a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales. Dr. Wood received an M.D. from the University of Wales School of Medicine. We believe that Dr. Wood possesses specific attributes that qualify him to serve as a member of our board of directors, including his extensive experience in the biotechnology sector and his having founded and managed four companies, including our company.

 

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Donald Munoz has served as our Chief Financial Officer since October 2015. Prior to joining NuCana, Mr. Munoz served as Group Chief Financial Officer of NOXXON Pharma AG (now NOXXON Pharma N.V.), a biopharmaceutical company, from September 2014 to September 2015. Before that, he was Head of Investment Banking at Summer Street Research Partners, an investment banking and institutional securities firm focused exclusively on healthcare, from August 2012 to September 2014. Mr. Munoz previously served as a Managing Director leading the medical technology investment banking franchises at Cowen and Company, LLC from 2009 to 2011 and Leerink Partners LLC from 2005 to 2009. Prior to that, he spent approximately ten years in the healthcare investment banking group at Alex. Brown & Sons and its successor, Deutsche Bank Securities. Mr. Munoz received an M.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from Columbia Business School and a B.A. from Dartmouth College.

 

Non-Executive Directors

 

Rafaèle Tordjman has served as a member of our board of directors since November 2011. From February 2017 to August 2017, Dr. Tordjman was a Special Advisor at Sofinnova Partners, an independent venture capital firm based in Paris, where she specialized in life sciences investments. She joined Sofinnova Partners in 2001 and served as a Managing Partner from January 2011 to February 2017. Dr. Tordjman currently serves as a director of ObsEva SA, a Nasdaq-listed biopharmaceutical company, and Lysogene, a Euronext-listed biotechnology company, and has previously served as a director of several biopharmaceutical or biotechnology companies, including: Ascendis Pharma A/S, DBV Technologies S.A., Medtronic CoreValve LLC and Flexion Therapeutics, Inc. Previously, Dr. Tordjman was a research scientist at the Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) in Cochin Hospital, Paris, France. Before joining INSERM, Dr. Tordjman was a medical doctor specializing in clinical hematology and internal medicine. Dr. Tordjman received a Ph.D. with high honors in hematopoiesis and angiogenesis, and a post-doctoral fellowship in immunology, from the University Paris VII. Dr. Tordjman received an M.D. and fellowship in hematology and internal medicine from the Paris University Hospitals. We believe that Dr. Tordjman possesses specific attributes that qualify her to serve as a member of our board of directors, including her medical background, clinical and research experience, and industry knowledge.

 

James Healy has served as a member of our board of directors since March 2014. Dr. Healy has also been a General Partner of Sofinnova Ventures since 2000, and currently serves as a director of Ascendis Pharma A/S, Coherus BioSciences, Inc., Edge Therapeutics, Inc., Natera, Inc., ObsEva SA and several private companies. Dr. Healy has previously served as a board member of Amarin Corporation, Auris Medical Holding AG, Hyperion Therapeutics, Inc., InterMune, Inc., Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Durata Therapeutics, Inc., CoTherix, Inc., Movetis NV and several private companies. Prior to 2000, Dr. Healy held various positions at Sanderling Ventures, Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals (as successor to Miles Laboratories) and ISTA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Dr. Healy also currently serves on the board of directors of the U.S. National Venture Capital Association and the Biotechnology Industry Organization. Dr. Healy holds an M.D. and a Ph.D. in Immunology from Stanford University School of Medicine and a B.A. in Molecular Biology and Scandinavian Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. We believe that Dr. Healy possesses specific attributes that qualify him to serve as a member of our board of directors, including extensive experience in biomedical research, development and finance.

 

Isaac Cheng has served as a member of our board of directors since May 2017. Dr. Cheng is currently an investment advisor at Morningside Technology Advisory LLC, a venture capital firm, which he joined in 2006, and is also a director of Cognoa, Inc., a digital health company, and several biopharmaceutical or biotechnology companies, including: Liquidia Technologies, Inc., Artugen Therapeutics Limited, Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and K-Gen, Inc. Previously, he was a board member of Advanced Cell Diagnostics, Inc., a biotechnology company, and a board observer of both Chimerix, Inc., a biotechnology company, and Argos Therapeutics, Inc , a biotechnology company. From 2004 to 2005, Dr. Cheng was Director of Research and Development at Serica Technologies, Inc., a Morningside portfolio company. Prior to that, Dr. Cheng was an Associate Director at

 

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Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation in Clinical Development and Medical Affairs. Dr. Cheng received his M.D. from Tufts University School of Medicine. We believe that Dr. Cheng possesses specific attributes that qualify him to serve as a member of our board of directors, including his medical background, clinical and research experience and industry knowledge.

 

Martin Mellish has served as a member of our board of directors since December 2009. Since 1994, Mr. Mellish has served as the Executive Director of Aspen Advisory Services Ltd., a London-based private investment office overseeing private and publicly traded investments in North America, Europe and Asia. Mr. Mellish also currently serves as a non-executive director of Kensington Green (Management) Limited, a real estate management company, Levitronix Technologies LLC, a technology company, Alturki Holding, an industrial investment and development holding company, Livercyte Limited, a biotechnology company, and Omnicyte Limited, a biotechnology company. From 1992 to 1994, Mr. Mellish pursued studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. From 1984 to 1992, he was controller and subsequently Chief Financial Officer of Alturki Holding. Prior to that, Mr. Mellish trained at Price Waterhouse Coopers. He was awarded an SM (Management) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an M.Sc. (Accounting) from Northeastern University. We believe that Mr. Mellish possesses specific attributes that qualify him to serve as a member of our board of directors, including his significant experience in accounting and finance.

 

Foreign Private Issuer Exemption

 

As a “foreign private issuer,” as defined by the SEC, although we are permitted to follow certain corporate governance practices of England and Wales, instead of those otherwise required under The Nasdaq Stock Market, or Nasdaq, for domestic issuers, we intend to follow the Nasdaq corporate governance rules applicable to foreign private issuers. While we voluntarily follow most Nasdaq corporate governance rules, we intend to take advantage of the following limited exemptions:

 

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Exemption from filing quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or provide current reports on Form 8-K disclosing significant events within four days of their occurrence.

 

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Exemption from Section 16 rules regarding sales of ordinary shares by insiders, which will provide less data in this regard than shareholders of U.S. companies that are subject to the Exchange Act.

 

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Exemption from the Nasdaq rules applicable to domestic issuers requiring disclosure within four business days of any determination to grant a waiver of the code of business conduct and ethics to directors and officers. Although we will require board approval of any such waiver, we may choose not to disclose the waiver in the manner set forth in the Nasdaq rules, as permitted by the foreign private issuer exemption.

 

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Exemption from the requirements that director nominees are selected, or recommended for selection by our board of directors, either by (1) independent directors constituting a majority of our board of directors’ independent directors in a vote in which only independent directors participate, or (2) a committee comprised solely of independent directors, and that a formal written charter or board resolution, as applicable, addressing the nominations process is adopted.

 

Furthermore, Nasdaq Rule 5615(a)(3) provides that a foreign private issuer, such as us, may rely on home country corporate governance practices in lieu of certain of the rules in the Nasdaq Rule 5600 Series and Rule 5250(d), provided that we nevertheless comply with Nasdaq’s Notification of Noncompliance requirement (Rule 5625), the Voting Rights requirement (Rule 5640) and that we have an audit committee that satisfies Rule 5605(c)(3), consisting of committee members that meet the independence requirements of Rule 5605(c)(2)(A)(ii). Although we are permitted to follow certain corporate governance rules that conform to U.K. requirements in lieu of many of the Nasdaq corporate governance rules, we intend to comply with the Nasdaq corporate governance rules applicable to foreign private issuers as set forth in the prior sentence. Accordingly, our shareholders will not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of Nasdaq. We may utilize these exemptions for as long as we continue to qualify as a foreign private issuer.

 

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Board Composition and Director Independence

 

Our business affairs are managed under the direction of our board of directors, which is currently composed of six members. Under the rules and regulations of Nasdaq a director will qualify as “independent” if our board of directors affirmatively determines that he or she has no material relationship with us (either directly or as a partner, stockholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with us). Our board of directors will establish guidelines to assist it in determining whether a director has such a material relationship. Ownership of a significant amount of our shares, by itself, does not constitute a material relationship.

 

Pursuant to Nasdaq rules, a director employed by us cannot be deemed to be an “independent director,” and consequently Mr. Griffith and Dr. Wood do not qualify as independent directors.

 

Our board of directors has reviewed the materiality of any relationship that each of our directors has with us, either directly or indirectly. Based on this review, our board of directors has determined that the following directors are “independent directors” as defined by the applicable rules and regulations of Nasdaq:         ,        ,              and              .

 

Committees of the Board of Directors and Corporate Governance

 

Subject to certain exceptions, the rules of the Nasdaq permit a foreign private issuer to follow its home country practice in lieu of the listing requirements of Nasdaq.

 

The committees of our board of directors will consist of an audit committee, a remuneration committee and a nominations committee. Each of these committees has the responsibilities described below. Our board of directors may also establish other committees from time to time to assist in the discharge of its responsibilities.

 

Audit Committee

 

Immediately upon completion of the offering, the members of our audit committee will be three of our non-executive directors,                 ,                  and                  , and each of these members is an “independent director” as such term is defined in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act.              will serve as chair of the audit committee. Our board of directors has determined that              is a financial expert as contemplated by the rules of the SEC implementing Section 407 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002. Our audit committee will meet at least four times per year and oversee the monitoring of our internal controls, accounting policies and financial reporting and provide a forum through which our external auditors and independent registered public accounting firm reports. Our audit committee will meet at least once a year with the external auditors and our independent registered public accounting firm without executive board members present. The audit committee will also be responsible for overseeing the activities of the external auditors and our independent registered public accounting firm, including their appointment, reappointment, or removal as well as monitoring their objectivity and independence. The audit committee will also review and approve the fees paid to our external auditors and independent registered public accounting firm and determine whether the fee levels for non-audit services, individually and in aggregate, relative to the audit fee are appropriate so as not to undermine their independence.

 

Remuneration Committee

 

Immediately upon the completion of this offering, the members of the remuneration committee will be                  and two of our non-executive directors,              and             , and each of these non-executive director members is a non-employee director as defined in Rule 166-3 under the Exchange Act and an outside director as defined in Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.              will serve as chair of the remuneration committee. Our remuneration committee will review, among other things, the performance of the executive officers and sets the scale and structure of their remuneration and the basis of their service agreements with due regard to the interests of the shareholders. It will be a policy of the remuneration committee that no individual participates in discussions or decisions concerning his or her own remuneration.

 

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Nominations Committee

 

Immediately upon completion of this offering, the members of the nominations committee will be              and two of our non-executive directors,              and             .              will serve as chair of the nominations committee and oversee the evaluation of the board of directors’ performance. The nominations committee will meet at least twice a year and review the structure, size and composition of the board of directors, supervise the selection and appointment process of directors, making recommendations to the board of directors with regard to any changes and using an external search consultancy if considered appropriate. For new appointments, the nominations committee will make a final recommendation to the board of directors, and the board of directors will have the opportunity to meet the candidate prior to approving the appointment. Once appointed, the nominations committee will oversee the induction of new directors and provide the appropriate training to the board of directors during the course of the year in order to ensure that they have the knowledge and skills necessary to operate effectively. The nominations committee will also be responsible for annually evaluating the performance of the board of directors, both on an individual basis and for the board of directors as a whole, taking into account such factors as attendance record, contribution during board of directors meetings and the amount of time that has been dedicated to board matters during the course of the year.

 

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

 

Upon the completion of this offering, we will adopt a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that will cover a broad range of matters including the handling of conflicts of interest, compliance issues and other corporate policies such as equal opportunity and non-discrimination standards.

 

Compensation

 

The following discussion provides the amount of compensation paid, and benefits in kind granted, by us and our subsidiaries to our directors and members of management for services in all capacities to us and our subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2016, as well as the amount contributed by us or our subsidiaries into money purchase plans for the year ended December 31, 2016 to provide pension, retirement or similar benefits to, our directors and members of the executive management board.

 

Directors’ and Executive Officers’ Compensation

 

For the year ended December 31, 2016, we paid an aggregate of £1.3 million in cash and benefits to our executive officers and directors.

 

Bonus Plans

 

The summary set forth below describes the bonus plan pursuant to which compensation was paid to our executive officers and directors for the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

Our executive officers and directors are eligible for an annual bonus at the discretion of the Remuneration Committee. Bonus awards are reviewed at the end of each calendar year and any such awards are determined by the performance of the individual and our company as a whole based upon the achievement of strategic objectives set at the beginning of the year.

 

Outstanding Equity Awards, Grants and Option Exercise

 

During the year ended December 31, 2016, options to purchase 1,465,760 ordinary shares were awarded to our executive officers and directors. As of December 31, 2016, our executive officers and directors held options to purchase 10,622,760 ordinary shares. Our executive officers and directors exercised options to purchase 183,000 ordinary shares during the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

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We periodically grant share options to employees, directors and consultants to enable them to share in our successes and to reinforce a corporate culture that aligns their interests with that of our shareholders. Since December 31, 2014, we have granted options to purchase 765,000 ordinary shares to 12 employees and consultants who are not directors or executive officers. Of these, options to purchase 200,000 shares were cancelled in 2016.

 

Pension, Retirement and Similar Benefits

 

For the year ended December 31, 2016, we and our subsidiaries contributed a total of £33,722 into money purchase plans to provide pension, retirement or similar benefits to our executive officers and directors.

 

Insurance and Indemnification

 

To the extent permitted by the Companies Act 2006, we are permitted to indemnify our directors against any liability they incur by reason of their directorship. We maintain directors’ and officers’ insurance to insure such persons against certain liabilities. In connection with this offering, we expect to enter into a deed of indemnity with each of our directors and executive officers prior to completion of this offering.

 

Insofar as indemnification of liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, executive officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

 

Equity Compensation Plans    

 

We have granted options to purchase our shares under three share option schemes, which are summarized in this section.

 

2009 Share Option Scheme

 

On August 1, 2009, we adopted a share option scheme, or the 2009 Share Option Scheme, for the purpose of enabling the grant of share options to incentivize our employees, consultants and directors and those employees, consultants and directors of our subsidiary companies. The 2009 Share Option Scheme was subsequently amended and approved by our board of directors and by our shareholders on November 15, 2011 and November 17, 2011, respectively.

 

The 2009 Share Option Scheme permits grants of (i) enterprise management incentive options which are potentially tax-advantaged in the United Kingdom under the terms of Schedule 5 to the United Kingdom Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (subject to the relevant conditions being met by the company and the grantee) and (ii) “unapproved” options (which do not attract tax advantages as they have not been “approved” by the U.K. tax authority, HMRC).

 

As of June 30, 2017, we had granted options to purchase 4,130,000 ordinary shares to directors, employees and consultants under the 2009 Share Option Scheme. 30,000 of these options lapsed in 2017. The remainder of these options have vested and are exercisable.

 

Class of Share.    An option granted under the 2009 Share Option Scheme entitles the option holder, subject to the satisfaction, waiver or acceleration of specific exercise conditions, to subscribe for ordinary shares.

 

Exercise Conditions.    Options granted under our 2009 Share Option Scheme may be granted subject to vesting schedules, performance targets or other conditions which must be satisfied or waived before exercise. Exercise conditions may be removed or varied by our board of directors, provided that any variation shall be (in the reasonable opinion of our board of directors) no more difficult to satisfy than the original exercise condition.

 

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Each option grant is documented through an option agreement. Most of the option agreements entered into under the 2009 Share Option Scheme provide that all unexercised options are exercisable upon one or more of the following events: (i) the admission of part of or the entirety of issued share capital (or of any holding company) to listing on the Official List of the U.K. Listing Authority and to trading on the market for listed securities of London Stock Exchange plc, or to trading on AIM, a market of the London Stock Exchange, or to trading on any recognized investment exchange (as that term was defined in Section 841 of Income and Corporate Taxes Act 1988, or ICTA, and as now contained in Section 1137 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010, or CTA); (ii) a change of control; or (iii) a sale of our company.

 

Takeovers and Corporate Events.    If (a) any person or group of persons acting in concert obtains control (as defined in section 840 of ICTA and as now contained in section 995 Income Tax Act, or ITA) of the company, as a result of making either (i) an offer to acquire shares amounting to more than 50% of the issued share capital of the company on a condition such that if it is satisfied the person or group of persons will have control of the company, or (ii) a general offer to acquire all of the issued share capital of the company (or all of the ordinary shares of the company in issue); or (b) any person becomes entitled or bound to acquire shares in the company under sections 428 to 430F of the Companies Act 1985 (since repealed and replaced by sections 974 to 991 of the Companies Act 2006); or (c) under section 425 of the Companies Act 1985 (since repealed and replaced by sections 895 to 901 of the Companies Act 2006) the courts of England and Wales sanction a compromise or arrangement proposed for the purpose of or in connection with a scheme for the reconstruction of the company or its amalgamation with any other company or companies, and, in each case an option holder’s option agreement expressly so provides, an option holder may at any time exercise his or her options or any part thereof which has not lapsed within a specified period. To the extent they are not exercised, such options will lapse at the end of the specified period for exercise.

 

Lapse of Options.    If not otherwise lapsed in accordance with the provisions of the 2009 Share Option Scheme, an option granted under the 2009 Share Option Scheme shall lapse at 5p.m. on the day before the 10th anniversary of the grant of the option.

 

If an option holder dies, his or her personal representatives may exercise his or her options within a period ending on the earlier of (i) the expiry of 12 months after the date of death, and (ii) 5 p.m. on the day before the 10th anniversary of the grant of the option, only to the extent that any exercise conditions have been met at the time of death. Failing such exercise the deceased option holder’s options shall lapse.

 

Adjustment of Awards.    In the event that there is any variation in our share capital that affects the value of the options, our board of directors will make such adjustments to the number and exercise price of shares subject to each option or the option price as our board of directors considers appropriate.

 

Transferability.    No options under the 2009 Share Option Scheme may be transferred, assigned or have any created over them and will lapse immediately upon an attempt to do so.

 

Amendment.    Our board of directors may, with the approval of the shareholders of the company at a general meeting, amend the 2009 Share Option Scheme, provided that any amendment shall not, without the consent of an option holder, materially increase his or her liabilities or materially decrease the value of his or her subsisting rights under an outstanding option.

 

2012 Share Option Scheme

 

On July 3, 2012, we adopted a share option scheme, or the 2012 Share Option Scheme, for the purpose of enabling the grant of share options to incentivize our employees and directors and those employees and directors of our subsidiary companies.

 

The 2012 Share Option Scheme permits grants of (i) enterprise management incentive options, which are potentially tax advantaged in the United Kingdom, and (ii) “unapproved” options, which do not attract tax advantages as they have not been “approved” by HMRC.

 

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As of June 30, 2017, we had granted options to purchase 7,635,756 ordinary shares to directors and employees under the 2012 Share Option Scheme. Of these, options to purchase 420,756 shares have been cancelled and options to purchase 150,000 shares were exercised in 2016. The remaining options to purchase 7,065,000 shares have vested and are exercisable.

 

Class of Share.    An option granted under the 2012 Share Option Scheme entitles the option holder, subject to the satisfaction, waiver or acceleration of specific exercise conditions, to subscribe for ordinary shares.

 

Exercise Conditions.    Options granted under our 2012 Share Option Scheme may be granted subject to vesting schedules, performance targets or other conditions which must be satisfied or waived before exercise. Exercise conditions may be removed or varied by our board of directors, provided that any variation shall be (in the reasonable opinion of our board of directors) no more difficult to satisfy than the original exercise condition. Each option grant is documented through an option agreement.

 

Leaver Provisions.    Absent summary dismissal with just cause, options will be retained by an option holder once they have ceased to be an employee or director of us or a subsidiary. Where an option holder has been summarily dismissed for cause, such option holder’s unexercised options shall immediately cease to be exercisable and shall lapse after 90 days unless our board of directors determines within such 90 day period that the option holder may exercise all or part of his options within a specified period.

 

Lapse of Options.    If not otherwise lapsed in accordance with the provisions of the 2012 Share Option Scheme, an option granted under the 2012 Share Option Scheme shall lapse at 5 p.m. on the day before the 10th anniversary of the grant of the option.

 

If an option holder dies, his personal representatives may exercise his options within a period ending on the earlier of (i) the expiry of 12 months after the date of death, and (ii) 5 p.m. on the day before the 10th anniversary of the grant of the option, only to the extent that any exercise conditions have been met at the time of death. Failing such exercise the deceased option holder’s options shall lapse.

 

Takeovers and Corporate Events.    If (a) any person or group of persons acting in concert obtains control (as defined in section 840 of ICTA and as now contained in section 995 of ITA) of the company, as a result of making either (i) an offer to acquire shares amounting to more than 50% of the issued share capital of the company on a condition such that if it is satisfied the person or group of persons will have control of the company, or (ii) a general offer to acquire all of the issued share capital of the company (or all of the ordinary shares of the company in issue); or (b) any person becomes entitled or bound to acquire shares in the company under sections 428 to 430F of the Companies Act 1985 (since repealed and replaced by sections 974 to 991 of the Companies Act 2006); or (c) under section 425 of the Companies Act 1985 (since repealed and replaced by sections 895 to 901 of the Companies Act 2006) the courts of England and Wales sanction a compromise or arrangement proposed for the purpose of or in connection with a scheme for the reconstruction of the company or its amalgamation with any other company or companies, and, in each case an option holder’s option agreement expressly so provides, an option holder may at any time exercise his or her options or any part thereof which has not lapsed within a specified period. To the extent they are not exercised, such options will lapse at the end of the specified period for exercise.

 

Adjustment of Awards.    In the event that there is any variation in our share capital that affects the value of the options, our board of directors will make such adjustments to the number and exercise price of shares subject to each option or the option price as our board of directors considers appropriate.

 

Transferability.    No options under the 2012 Share Option Scheme may be transferred, assigned or have any charge created over them and will lapse immediately upon an attempt to do so.

 

Amendment.    Our board of directors may, with the approval of the shareholders of the company at a general meeting, amend the 2012 Share Option Scheme, provided that any amendment shall not, without the

 

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consent of an option holder, materially increase his or her liabilities or materially decrease the value of his or her subsisting rights under an outstanding option.

 

2016 Share Option Scheme

 

On January 14, 2016 we adopted a share option scheme, or the 2016 Share Option Scheme, for the purpose of enabling the grant of share options to incentivize our employees and directors and those employees and directors of our subsidiary companies. The 2016 Share Option Scheme incorporates a sub-plan for option holders subject to taxation in the United States, or the 2016 U.S. Sub-Plan.

 

The 2016 Share Option Scheme permits grants of (i) enterprise management incentive options, (ii) “unapproved” options, and (iii) incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options under the 2016 U.S. Sub-Plan.

 

As of June 30, 2017, we had granted options to purchase 2,073,760 ordinary shares to directors and employees under the 2016 Share Option Scheme. Of these, options to purchase 183,000 shares were exercised in 2016.

 

Class of Share.    An option granted under the 2016 Share Option Scheme entitles the option holder, subject to the satisfaction, waiver or acceleration of specific exercise conditions, to subscribe for ordinary shares.

 

Exercise Conditions.    Options granted under our 2016 Share Option Scheme may be granted subject to vesting schedules, performance targets or other conditions which must be satisfied or waived before exercise. Exercise conditions may be removed or varied by our board of directors, provided that any variation shall be (in the reasonable opinion of our board of directors) no more difficult to satisfy than the original exercise condition.

 

Each option grant is documented through an option agreement. Most of option agreements entered into under the 2016 Share Option Scheme provide that all unvested options shall immediately vest if, following one of the Takeover and Corporate Events listed below, the option holder (i) remains an eligible employee for the purpose of the plan; and (ii) has experienced a material reduction in base compensation that was payable as at the date of grant or has otherwise experienced a material change or reduction in authority, duties, reporting or responsibilities.

 

Leaver Provisions.    If an option holder ceases to be an employee or director of the company or a subsidiary for a variety of specified reasons (including ill health, retirement, sale of a subsidiary company or part of the business to a third party, or if his employment/directorship ceases for any reason part from summary dismissal from fraud or gross misconduct) then the option holder may exercise his options during the 12 months after the date of such cessation of employment/directorship only to the extent that any exercise conditions have been met at the time of such cessation of employment/directorship. Any part of an option in respect of which the relevant exercise conditions have not been met at the point at which the option holder ceases his employment/directorship shall lapse.

 

Lapse of Options.    If not otherwise lapsed in accordance with the provisions of the 2016 Share Option Scheme, an option granted under the 2016 Share Option Scheme shall lapse at 5 p.m. on the day before the 10th anniversary of the grant of the option.

 

If an option holder dies, his personal representatives may exercise his options within a period ending on the earlier of (i) the expiry of 12 months after the date of death, and (ii) 5 p.m. on the day before the 10th anniversary of the grant of the option, only to the extent that any exercise conditions have been met at the time of death. Failing such exercise the deceased option holder’s options shall lapse.

 

Takeovers and Corporate Events.    If (a) any person or group of persons acting in concert obtains control (as defined in section 840 of ICTA and as now contained in section 995 of ITA) of the company, as a result of making

 

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either (i) an offer to acquire shares amounting to more than 50% of the issued share capital of the company on a condition such that if it is satisfied the person or group of persons will have control of the company, or (ii) a general offer to acquire all of the issued share capital of the company (or all of the ordinary shares of the company in issue); or (b) any person becomes entitled or bound to acquire shares in the company under sections 974 to 991 of the Companies Act 2006; or (c) under sections 895 to 901 of the Companies Act 2006 the courts of England and Wales sanction a compromise or arrangement proposed for the purpose of or in connection with a scheme for the reconstruction of the company or its amalgamation with any other company or companies, and, in each case an option holder’s option agreement expressly so provides, an option holder may at any time exercise his or her options or any part thereof which has not lapsed within a specified period. To the extent they are not exercised, such options will lapse at the end of the specified period for exercise.

 

Adjustment of Awards.    In the event that there is any variation in our share capital that affects the value of the options, our board of directors will make such adjustments to the number and exercise price of shares subject to each option or the option price as our board of directors considers appropriate.

 

Transferability.    No options under the 2016 Share Option Scheme may be transferred, assigned or have any charge created over them and will lapse immediately upon an attempt to do so.

 

Amendment.    Our board of directors may, with the approval of the shareholders of the company at a general meeting, amend the 2016 Share Option Scheme, provided that any amendment shall not, without the consent of an option holder, materially increase his or her liabilities or materially decrease the value of his or her subsisting rights under an outstanding option.

 

2016 U.S. Sub-Plan

 

The 2016 U.S. Sub-Plan applies to grantees that are subject to U.S. federal income tax. The 2016 U.S. Sub-Plan provides that options granted to the U.S. grantees will either be incentive stock options pursuant to Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code or nonqualified stock options. Options, other than certain incentive stock options described below, must have an exercise price not less than 100% of the fair market value of an underlying share on the date of grant. Incentive stock options that are not exercised within 10 years from the grant date expire, provided that incentive stock options granted to a person holding more than 10% of our voting power will expire within five years from the date of the grant date and must have an exercise price at least equal to 110% of the fair market value of an underlying share on the date of grant. The number of shares available under the 2016 Share Option Scheme for grants of incentive stock options shall not exceed 2,750,000 ordinary shares, subject to any applicable adjustment pursuant to the 2016 Share Option Scheme due to a variation of capital. With respect to grantees that are subject to U.S. federal income tax, the 2016 Share Option Scheme, the 2016 U.S. Sub-Plan and all options issued thereunder are intended to comply with, or be exempt from, Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, and they are to be interpreted accordingly. In the event that any option is subject to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, our board of directors or our general counsel may, in their sole discretion, amend the 2016 Share Option Scheme, the 2016 U.S. Sub-Plan and any option issued thereunder, adopt policies and procedures or take such other actions as our board of directors or our general counsel deem appropriate, to exempt the 2016 Share Option Scheme, the 2016 U.S. Sub-Plan or any option from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, preserve the intended tax treatment of such option or comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

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Employee Benefit Trust

 

On December 19, 2011, we established a discretionary employee benefit trust under the terms of a trust deed, or the Employee Benefit Trust, to operate in conjunction with our share option schemes. The beneficiaries of the Employee Benefit Trust are our employees and former employees (including executive directors) and their spouses, civil partners, surviving spouses and civil partners, children and step-children under the age of 18. The trustee of the Employee Benefit Trust is NuCana BioMed Trustee Company Limited, or the Trustee, our wholly owned subsidiary. As of June 30, 2017, the Trustee holds 2,000,000 of our ordinary shares in trust under the terms of the trust deed, which, pursuant to the terms of our three option schemes, and at the election of the Trustee, may be used to satisfy awards under our share option schemes. Under the terms of the trust deed, unless we direct otherwise, the Trustee must abstain from voting at a general meeting any of our shares held in the trust fund for which the Trustee holds the whole of the beneficial interest.

 

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RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

The following is a description of related party transactions we have entered into since January 1, 2014 with any members of our board of directors or executive officers or the holders of more than 5% of our share capital.

 

Series B Share Placement

 

In March 2014, we issued an aggregate of 33,850,000 series B convertible participating shares, or Series B Shares, to new and existing institutional and other investors at a price of £1.00 per share for an aggregate subscription price of £33.85 million, or the Series B Placement.

 

The following table sets forth the aggregate number of our Series B Shares issued to our 5% or greater shareholders and their affiliates and one of our former executive officers in the Series B Placement.

 

Participants(1)		Series B Shares(#)
Sofinnova Capital VI FCPR (2)			10,000,000
Sofinnova Venture Partners VIII, L.P. (3)			16,000,000
Morningside Venture Investments Limited (4)			7,200,000
Scottish Enterprise			500,000
Christopher McGuigan (5)			150,000

 

(1)

For further information, see “Principal Shareholders.”

(2)

Rafaèle Tordjman, a member of our board of directors, was a Managing Partner at Sofinnova Partners SAS, the management company of Sofinnova Capital VI FCPR, at the time of the Series B Placement.

(3)

James Healy, a member of our board of directors, is a managing member of Sofinnova Management VIII, L.L.C., the general partner of Sofinnova Venture Partners VIII, L.P.

(4)

Isaac Cheng is a member of our board of directors who has been designated by Morningside Venture Investments Limited.

(5)

Christopher McGuigan was our Chief Scientific Officer at the time of the Series B Placement.

 

Shareholders’ Agreement and Registration Rights

 

In connection with the Series B Placement, we entered into a shareholders’ agreement with all of our then-existing shareholders, including certain of our directors and executive officers, on March 31, 2014, or the 2014 Shareholders’ Agreement. Among other things, the 2014 Shareholders’ Agreement provided piggyback registration rights to certain of our then-existing shareholders. The 2014 Shareholders’ Agreement will terminate upon the completion of this offering. We have entered into a registration rights agreement to be effective upon the completion of this offering and pursuant to which we have agreed under specified circumstances to file a registration statement to register the resale of the ordinary shares held by some of our existing shareholders, as well as to cooperate in specified public offerings of such shares. See “Description of Share Capital – Registration Rights”.

 

Management Rights Letter

 

In connection with the Series B Placement, we entered into a management rights letter with Sofinnova Venture Partners VIII, L.P., or Sofinnova Ventures, on March 31, 2014, which holds more than 5% of our Series B Shares, pursuant to which Sofinnova Ventures is entitled to consult and advise our management on significant business. The management rights letter will terminate upon the completion of this offering.

 

Agreements with Our Executive Officers and Directors

 

We have entered into service agreements with our two executive officers and one of our non-executive directors. We have also entered into an engagement agreement with one of our non-executive directors.

 

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Related Person Transaction Policy

 

Prior to the completion of this offering, we intend to adopt a related person transaction policy.

 

Indemnification Agreements

 

In connection with this offering, we expect to enter into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. See “Management — Compensation — Insurance and Indemnification.”

 

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PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS

 

The following table and related footnotes set forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares as of June 30, 2017 and as of the consummation of this offering, in each case, giving effect to the automatic conversion, immediately prior to the completion of this offering, of all of our outstanding series A convertible participating shares, series B convertible participating shares, founder ordinary 1 shares and founder ordinary 2 shares into ordinary shares, by:

 

•

each of our executive officers and directors;

 

•

each person beneficially owning more than 5% of our share capital as of June 30, 2017; and

 

•

all executive officers and directors as a group.

 

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. In computing the number of ordinary shares owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, we have included shares that the person has the right to acquire within 60 days from June 30, 2017, including through the exercise of any option, warrant or other right or the conversion of any other security. These ordinary shares, however, are not included in the computation of the percentage ownership of any other person except with respect to the percentage ownership of all board members and executive officers, as a group. Ownership of our ordinary shares by the “principal shareholders” identified below has been determined by reference to our share register, which provides us with information regarding the registered holders of our ordinary shares but generally provides limited, or no, information regarding the ultimate beneficial owners of such ordinary shares. As a result, we may not be aware of each person or group of affiliated persons who beneficially owns more than 5% of our ordinary shares. Based on our share register and other information made available to us by certain of our shareholders, as of June 30, 2017, 19,041,920 ordinary shares, representing 19.7% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares, were held by three U.S. record holders.

 

This table assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option to purchase additional ADSs.

 

Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each of the shareholders in the table below is c/o NuCana plc, 10 Lochside Place, Edinburgh, EH12 9RG, United Kingdom.

 

		Ordinary  Shares Beneficially Owned(1)				Percentage of Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned
Name of Beneficial Owner						Before the Offering				After the Offering
Greater than 5% Shareholders
Sofinnova Capital VI FCPR(2)			31,333,333				32.39	%
Sofinnova Venture Partners VIII, L.P.(3)			16,000,000				16.54
Morningside Venture Investments Limited(4)			11,644,444				12.04
Scottish Enterprise(5)			8,987,655				9.29
Named Executive Officers and Directors
Hugh Griffith(6)			9,500,000				9.29
Christopher Wood(7)			7,979,500				7.76
Donald Munoz(8)			270,690				*
Rafaèle Tordjman			—				—
James Healy(9)			16,183,000				16.73
Isaac Cheng(10)			—				—
Martin Mellish(11)			90,000				*
All of our current executive officers and directors, as a group (7 persons)			33,841,523				31.91	%

 

*

Indicates beneficial ownership of less than one percent of our ordinary shares.

 

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(1)

Number of shares owned as shown both in this table and the accompanying footnotes and percentage ownership before the offering is based on 96,738,556 ordinary shares outstanding on June 30, 2017, which gives effect to the automatic conversion of all of the 4,000,000 founder ordinary 1 shares, 4,000,000 founder ordinary 2 shares, 29,933,331 series A convertible participating shares preferred shares and 33,850,000 series B convertible participating shares outstanding into ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis.

(2)

All shares are held by Sofinnova Capital VI FCPR (“Sofinnova Capital”). Sofinnova Partners SAS, a French corporation, is the management company of Sofinnova Capital, and may be deemed to have sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares held by Sofinnova Capital. Denis Lucquin, Antoine Papiernik, Monique Saulnier and Graziano Seghezzi are the managing partners of Sofinnova Partners SAS, and, as such, may be deemed to have joint voting and investment power with respect to the shares held by Sofinnova Capital. The address of Sofinnova Capital is Sofinnova Partners, Immeuble le Centorial, 16-18 Rue du Quatre-Septembre, 75002 Paris, France.

(3)

All shares are held by Sofinnova Venture Partners VIII, L.P. (“Sofinnova Ventures”). Dr. James Healy, a member of our board of directors, together with Dr. Michael F. Powell and Dr. Anand Mehra, are the managing members of Sofinnova Management VIII, L.L.C., the general partner of Sofinnova Ventures, and as such, may be deemed to have joint voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by Sofinnova Ventures. Each of Dr. Powell, Dr. Mehra and Dr. Healy disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by Sofinnova Ventures, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, if any. The mailing address of Sofinnova Ventures is c/o Sofinnova Ventures, Inc., 3000 Sand Hill Road, Bldg. 4, Suite 250, Menlo Park, CA 94025.

(4)

All shares are held by Morningside Venture Investments Limited (“MVIL”). Raymond Tang, Louise Garbarino, Peter Stuart Allenby Edwards and Jill Franklin are directors of MVIL, and may be deemed to have joint voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by MVIL. Each of Mr. Tang, Ms. Garbarino, Mr. Edwards and Ms. Franklin disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares held by MVIL, except to the extent of his or her pecuniary interest therein, if any. The mailing address of MVIL is 2nd Floor, Le Prince de Galles, 3-5 Avenue des Citronniers, MC 98000, Monaco.

(5)

Consists of 8,987,655 ordinary shares owned of record by Scottish Enterprise. Scottish Enterprise is a non-departmental body of the Scottish government and has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares. The address of Scottish Enterprise is Atrium Court, 50 Waterloo Street, Glasgow G2 6HQ, Scotland.

(6)

Consists of (a) 4,000,000 ordinary shares and (b) options to purchase 5,500,000 ordinary shares that are or will be immediately exercisable within 60 days of June 30, 2017.

(7)

Consists of (a) 4,047,500 ordinary shares and (b) options to purchase 3,750,000 ordinary shares that are or will be immediately exercisable within 60 days of June 30, 2017.

(8)

Consists of options to purchase 270,690 ordinary shares that are or will be immediately exercisable within 60 days of June 30, 2017.

(9)

Consists of (a) 183,000 ordinary shares held in the Healy Family Trust, for which Dr. James Healy’s spouse is the trustee, and (b) 16,000,000 ordinary shares owned of record by Sofinnova Ventures. Dr. James Healy, a member of our board of directors, together with Dr. Michael F. Powell and Dr. Anand Mehra, are the managing members of Sofinnova Management VIII, L.L.C., the general partner of Sofinnova Ventures, and as such, may be deemed to share voting and investment power with respect to such shares. Dr. Healy disclaims beneficial ownership with regard to the 16,000,000 shares owned by Sofinnova Ventures, except to the extent of his proportionate pecuniary interest therein.

(10)

Isaac Cheng is a member of our board of directors who has been designated by MVIL. Dr. Cheng has no voting or investment power with respect to the shares held by MVIL.

(11)

Consists of options to purchase 90,000 ordinary shares that are or will be immediately exercisable within 60 days of June 30, 2017.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL

 

The following describes our issued share capital, summarizes the material provisions of our articles of association and highlights certain differences in corporate law in the United Kingdom and the United States. Please note that this summary is not intended to be exhaustive. For further information please refer to the full version of our articles of association, which is included as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is part.

 

General

 

We were incorporated in England and Wales with the Registrar of Companies of England and Wales, United Kingdom on January 28, 1997 under the name Biomed (UK) Limited as a private company limited by shares with company number 03308778.

 

On April 28, 2008, our name was changed to NuCana BioMed Limited. On August 29, 2017, we re-registered as a public limited company and changed our name to NuCana plc. Such re-registration required the passing of special resolutions by our shareholders to approve the re-registration as a public limited company, the name change to NuCana plc and to effect certain amendments to our articles of association.

 

Our registered office is located at 77/78 Cannon Street, London, EC4N 6AF, United Kingdom. The principal legislation under which we operate and our shares are issued is the Companies Act 2006.

 

Prior to completion of this offering, certain resolutions will be passed by our shareholders. These include resolutions for:

 

•

The adoption of new articles of association that will become effective upon the completion of this offering. See “—Articles of Association” below.

 

•

The general authorization of our directors for purposes of section 551 Companies Act 2006 to issue shares in the company and grant rights to subscribe for or convert any securities into shares in the company up to a maximum aggregate nominal amount of £     for a period expiring on     .

 

•

The empowering of our directors pursuant to section 570 Companies Act 2006 to issue equity securities for cash pursuant to the section 551 authority referred to above as if the statutory pre-emption rights under section 561(1) Companies Act 2006 did not apply to such allotments.

 

Issued Share Capital

 

Our issued share capital as of June 30, 2017 is £662,736, divided into: 29,933,331 series A convertible participating shares of £0.01 each; 33,850,000 series B convertible participating shares of £0.001 each; 24,955,225 ordinary shares of £0.01 each; 4,000,000 founder ordinary 1 shares of £0.01 each; and 4,000,000 founder ordinary 2 shares of £0.01 each. A summary of increases in, and changes to, our issued share capital is set out below.

 

One ordinary share of £1.00 each was issued to each of London Law Services Limited and London Law Secretarial Limited, respectively, upon incorporation.

 

On March 20, 2008, we subdivided the two ordinary shares of £1.00 each into 200 ordinary shares of £0.01 each and we subdivided the 98 authorized yet unissued ordinary shares of £1.00 each into 9,800 ordinary shares of £0.01 each. Further, our authorized share capital was increased from £100 to £500,000 by the creation of 49,990,000 new ordinary shares of £0.01 each. On March 20, 2008, we issued 17,999,800 ordinary shares of £0.01 each.

 

On July 27, 2008, we issued a further 800,000 ordinary shares of £0.01 each. On August 20, 2009, we issued 1,400,000 ordinary shares of £0.01 each. On December 18, 2009, we issued 7,267,904 ordinary shares of £0.01

 

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each (2,000,000 of which were available for such issue, having previously been issued to, but subsequently surrendered by, a shareholder). On December 14, 2010, we issued 6,265,433 ordinary shares of £0.01 each.

 

On November 24, 2011, we issued 29,933,331 series A convertible participating shares of £0.01 each.

 

On March 28, 2012, we issued 888,888 ordinary shares of £0.01 each.

 

On March 31, 2014, we issued 33,850,000 series B convertible participating shares of £0.001 each.

 

On November 30, 2016, we issued 150,000 ordinary shares of £0.01 each, pursuant to the exercise of share options granted under the 2012 Share Option Scheme.

 

On December 31, 2016, we issued 183,000 ordinary shares of £0.01 each, pursuant to the exercise of share options granted under the 2016 Share Option Scheme.

 

Ordinary Shares

 

As of June 30, 2017, we had issued and outstanding 24,955,225 ordinary shares of £0.01 each, held by 19 shareholders of record. Each issued ordinary share is fully paid.

 

Holders of ordinary shares are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders and do not have cumulative voting rights.

 

Prior to this offering, in the event of any distribution of capital, whether as a result of winding-up, dissolution or liquidation of the company or otherwise, or payment of any dividend, the holders of ordinary shares will rank pari passu with the holders of founder ordinary 1 shares, founder ordinary 2 shares, series A convertible participating shares and series B convertible participating shares in proportion to the number of fully paid shares held.

 

Following this offering, any distribution made as result of winding-up, dissolution or liquidation of our company and any dividend declared will be distributed in proportion to the number of fully paid ordinary shares held.

 

Founder Ordinary 1 Shares

 

As of June 30, 2017, we had issued and outstanding 4,000,000 founder ordinary 1 shares of £0.01 each, held by one shareholder of record, Hugh S. Griffith. Each issued founder ordinary 1 share is fully paid.

 

Holders of founder ordinary 1 shares are entitled to vote on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders either on a show of hands or on a poll. As an exception to the general rule that, on a poll, each of our shareholders has one vote for each share held: the holders of the founder ordinary 1 shares are, collectively entitled, on a poll, to exercise such number of votes that equals at least 5% of all votes exercisable by our shareholders.

 

Accordingly, (i) where the holders of the founder ordinary 1 shares, as a class, hold a number of shares that would (on a one vote per share basis) entitle them to exercise a number of votes less than 5% of the total number of votes exercisable by all shareholders on a poll vote, the holders of the founder ordinary 1 shares shall, as a class, be entitled to exercise such number of votes as equals 5% of the total number of votes exercisable by all shareholders on such poll; and (ii) where the holders of the founder ordinary 1 shares, as a class, hold a number of shares that would (on a one vote per share basis) entitle them to exercise 5% or more of the total number of votes exercisable by all shareholders on a poll vote, the holders of the founder ordinary 1 shares shall, as a class, be entitled to exercise the number of votes equal to the number of founder ordinary 1 shares so held.

 

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The founder ordinary 1 shares will automatically convert into ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis immediately prior to the completion of this offering. Upon completion of this offering, there will be no founder ordinary 1 shares outstanding, and we have no present intention to issue any founder ordinary 1 shares at any time after completion of this offering.

 

Founder Ordinary 2 Shares

 

As of June 30, 2017, we had issued and outstanding 4,000,000 founder ordinary 2 shares of £0.01 each, held by one shareholder of record, Christopher Wood. Each issued founder ordinary 2 share is fully paid.

 

Holders of founder ordinary 2 shares are entitled to vote on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders either on a show of hands or on a poll. As an exception to the general rule that, on a poll, each of our shareholders has one vote for each share held: the holders of the founder ordinary 2 shares are, collectively entitled, on a poll, to exercise such number of votes that equals at least 5% of all votes exercisable by our shareholders.

 

Accordingly, (i) where the holders of the founder ordinary 2 shares, as a class, hold a number of shares that would (on a one vote per share basis) entitle them to exercise a number of votes less than 5% of the total number of votes exercisable by all shareholders on a poll vote, the holders of the founder ordinary 2 shares shall, as a class, be entitled to exercise such number of votes as equals 5% of the total number of votes exercisable by all shareholders on such poll; and (ii) where the holders of the founder ordinary 2 shares, as a class, hold a number of shares that would (on a one vote per share basis) entitle them to exercise 5% or more of the total number of votes exercisable by all shareholders on a poll vote, the holders of the founder ordinary 2 shares shall, as a class, be entitled to exercise the number of votes equal to the number of founder ordinary 2 shares so held.

 

The founder ordinary 2 shares will automatically convert into ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis immediately prior to the completion of this offering. Upon completion of this offering, there will be no founder ordinary 2 shares outstanding, and we have no present intention to issue any founder ordinary 2 shares at any time after completion of this offering.

 

Series A Convertible Participating Shares

 

As of June 30, 2017, we had issued and outstanding 29,933,331 series A convertible participating shares of £0.01 each. Each issued series A convertible participating share is fully paid.

 

The holders of series A convertible participating shares are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders and do not have cumulative voting rights. The series A convertible participating shares will automatically convert into ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis immediately prior to the completion of this offering. Upon completion of this offering, there will be no series A convertible participating shares outstanding, and we have no present intention to issue any series A convertible participating shares at any time after completion of this offering.

 

Series B Convertible Participating Shares

 

As of June 30, 2017, we had issued and outstanding 33,850,000 series B convertible participating shares of £0.001 each, or Series B Shares. Each issued Series B Share is fully paid.

 

The holders of Series B Shares are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders and do not have cumulative voting rights. Following the allotment and consolidation described below, the Series B Shares will automatically convert into ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis immediately prior to the completion of this offering. Upon completion of this offering, there will be no Series B Shares outstanding, and we have no present intention to issue any Series B Shares at any time after completion of this offering.

 

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Conversion of Series B Shares into Ordinary Shares

 

For the purpose of facilitating a conversion of each Series B Share (nominal value £0.001 per share), into an ordinary share (nominal value £0.01 per share), immediately prior to the completion of this offering, we will allot to holders of Series B Shares an additional nine Series B Shares for each Series B Share held.

 

Subject to and conditional upon this allotment, every 10 Series B Shares of £0.001 will be consolidated into a single Series B Share of £0.01. Immediately prior to the completion of this offering, each Series B Share of £0.01 will then be automatically converted into one ordinary share of £0.01.

 

We will fund the allotment of these additional shares with reserves that are standing to the credit of our share premium account and obtain all shareholder resolutions and permissions as are necessary for the purpose of authorizing our directors to (i) capitalize the specified sum; (ii) allot the additional Series B Shares; and (iii) consolidate the Series B Shares.

 

Registration Rights

 

In connection with the Series B Placement, we entered into a shareholders’ agreement with all of our then-existing shareholders, including certain of our directors and executive officers, on March 31, 2014, or the 2014 Shareholders’ Agreement. Among other things, the 2014 Shareholders Agreement provided certain piggyback registration rights to certain of our then-existing shareholders. The 2014 Shareholders’ Agreement will terminate effective upon completion of this offering.

 

We have entered into a registration rights agreement to be effective upon the completion of this offering and pursuant to which we have agreed under specified circumstances to file a registration statement to register the resale of the ordinary shares held by some of our existing shareholders, as well as to cooperate in specified public offerings of such shares. These rights are described below.

 

Demand Registration Rights. If at any time when we are eligible to use a Form F-3 registration statement, the holders of at least         % of the registrable securities then outstanding have the right to demand that we file a Form F-3 registration statement with respect to such registrable securities. These registration rights are subject to specified conditions and limitations, including the right of the underwriters, if any, to limit the number of shares included in any such registration under specified circumstances. Upon such a request, we are required to use commercially reasonable efforts to effect such registration.

 

Company Registration. If we propose to register any of our equity securities under the Securities Act, other than in connection with certain specified registrations, including a registration relating solely to our employee equity incentive plans or a registration relating solely to certain business combinations or mergers involving us, the holders of these registrable securities are entitled to notice of such registration and are entitled to include their ordinary shares in the registration. Under certain circumstances, the underwriters, if any, may limit the number of ordinary shares included in any such registration.

 

Termination of Registration Rights. The registration rights granted under the registration rights agreement shall terminate upon the earlier to occur of (i) the fifth anniversary of the closing of this offering and (ii) the date on which there are no registrable securities remaining pursuant to the registration rights agreement.

 

Articles of Association

 

As described above, prior to this offering, our shareholders will pass a special resolution to adopt new articles of association which will become effective upon the completion of this offering. The following is a summary of certain provisions of the new articles of association.

 

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Please note that this is only a summary and is not intended to be exhaustive. For further information please refer to the full version of our articles of association that will become effective upon the completion of this offering, which is included as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

 

Shares and Rights Attaching to Them

 

General. All ordinary shares have the same rights and rank pari passu in all respects. Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 and any other relevant legislation, our board of directors may, from time to time, allot and issue shares following an ordinary resolution of the shareholders granting authority to the directors to allot shares (and if applicable, and not already disapplied, a special resolution to disapply pre-emption rights).

 

Our shares may be issued with or have attached to them any preferred, deferred, qualified or other special rights or restrictions, whether in relation to dividends, returns of capital, voting or otherwise, as set out in our articles of association or as the shareholders may determine by ordinary resolution (or, if the shareholders have not so determined, as our board of directors may determine).

 

Voting rights. Subject to any other provisions of our articles of association and without prejudice to any special rights, privileges or restrictions as to voting attached to any shares forming part of our share capital, the voting rights of shareholders are as follows. Unless a poll vote is demanded, shareholders shall vote on all resolutions on a show of hands. Our articles of association provide that a poll vote may be demanded before, or on the declaration of, the result of a vote on a show of hands: (a) by the chairman of a general meeting, (b) by at least five shareholders present at a meeting and entitled to vote, or (c) by any shareholder or shareholders present representing not less than ten per cent of the total voting rights or more than ten per cent of the total sum paid up on all voting shares. For these purposes, a shareholder will be present at a meeting if attending in person, by proxy, or, in the case of a shareholder that is a corporation (as broadly defined under the Companies Act 2006), by duly authorized representative.

 

On a show of hands, each shareholder present in person, and each duly authorized representative present in person of a shareholder that is a corporation, has one vote. On a show of hands, each proxy present in person who has been duly appointed by one or more shareholders has one vote, but a proxy has one vote for and one vote against a resolution if the proxy is instructed to vote on a resolution by more than one shareholder and is instructed to vote in different ways on such resolution.

 

On a poll, each shareholder present in person or by proxy or, with respect to a corporation, by a duly authorized representative has one vote for each share held by the shareholder. We are prohibited from exercising any rights to attend or vote at meetings in respect of any shares held by us as treasury shares.

 

Restrictions on voting where sums overdue on shares. None of our shareholders is entitled to vote at any general meeting or at any separate class meeting in respect of any share held by him or her unless all calls or other sums payable by him or her in respect of that share have been paid.

 

Calls on shares. The directors may from time to time make calls on shareholders in respect of any amounts unpaid on their shares, whether in respect of nominal value of the shares or by way of premium. Shareholders are required to pay the called amount on shares subject to receiving at least 14 clear days’ notice specifying the time and place for payment. Under our articles of association, a period of “clear days” excludes the day on which a notice is given or deemed to have been given and the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect. If a shareholder fails to pay any part of a call, the board of directors may serve further notice naming another day not being less than 14 clear days from the date of the further notice requiring payment and stating that in the event of non-payment the shares in respect of which the call was made will be liable to be forfeited. Subsequent forfeiture requires a resolution by the board of directors.

 

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Dividends. Subject to the Companies Act 2006 and the provisions of all other relevant legislation, we may by ordinary resolution declare dividends out of profits available for distribution in accordance with the respective rights of shareholders, but no such dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the board of directors. If, in the opinion of the board of directors, our profits available for distribution justify such payments, the board of directors may pay fixed dividends payable on any of our shares with preferential rights, half-yearly or otherwise, on fixed dates and from time to time pay interim dividends to the holders of any class of shares. Subject to any special rights attaching to, or terms of issue of, any shares, all dividends shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid up on the shares on which the dividend is paid. No dividend shall be payable to us in respect of any shares held by us as treasury shares.

 

We may, upon the recommendation of the board of directors, by ordinary resolution, direct payment of a dividend wholly or partly by the distribution of specific assets.

 

All dividends unclaimed for one year after having been declared may be invested or otherwise used at the directors’ discretion for our benefit until claimed (subject as provided in the articles of association), and all dividends unclaimed after a period of 12 years from the date when such dividend became due for payment shall be forfeited and shall revert to us.

 

The board of directors may, if so authorized by ordinary resolution passed at any general meeting, offer any holders of the ordinary shares the right to elect to receive in lieu of that dividend an allotment of ordinary shares credited as fully paid.

 

We may cease to send any cheque or warrant by mail or may stop the transfer of any sum by any bank or other funds transfer system for any dividend payable on any of our shares, which is normally paid in that manner on those shares if in respect of at least two consecutive dividends the cheque or warrants have been returned undelivered or remain uncashed or the transfer has failed, or in respect of one dividend the cheque or warrant has been returned undelivered or remains uncashed or the transfer has failed and reasonable inquiries made by us have failed to establish any new address of the holder.

 

We or the directors may specify a “record date” on which persons registered as the holders of shares shall be entitled to receipt of any dividend.

 

Distribution of assets on winding-up. Subject to any special rights attaching to, or the terms of issue of any shares, on any winding-up of the company our surplus assets remaining after satisfaction of our liabilities will be distributed among our shareholders in proportion to their respective holdings of shares and the amounts paid up on those shares.

 

On any winding-up of the company (whether the liquidation is voluntary, under supervision or by the Court), the liquidator may with the authority of a special resolution of the company and any other sanction required by any relevant legislation, divide among our shareholders (excluding the company itself to the extent that it is a shareholder by virtue of its holding any shares or treasury shares) in specie or in kind the whole or any part of our assets (subject to any special rights attached to any shares issued by us in the future) and may for that purpose set such value as he deems fair upon any one or more class or classes of property and may determine how that division shall be carried out as between the shareholders or different classes of shareholders. The liquidator may, with that sanction, vest the whole or any part of the assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the shareholders as he with the relevant authority determines, and the liquidation of the company may be closed and the company dissolved, but so that no shareholders shall be compelled to accept any shares or other property in respect of which there is a liability.

 

Variation of rights. The rights or privileges attached to any class of shares may (unless otherwise provided by the terms of the issue of the shares of that class) be varied or abrogated with the consent in writing of the

 

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holders of three-fourths in requisite nominal value of the issued shares of that class (excluding any shares of that class held as treasury shares) or with the approval of a special resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the shareholders of that class, but not otherwise.

 

Transfer of shares. All of our shares are in registered form and may be transferred by a transfer in any usual or common form or any form acceptable to the board of directors and permitted by the Companies Act 2006 and any other relevant legislation.

 

The board of directors may decline to register a transfer of a share that is:

 

•

not fully paid or on which we have a lien;

 

•

(except where uncertificated shares are transferred without a written instrument) not lodged duly stamped (if it is required to be stamped) at our registered office or at such other place as the board of directors may appoint;

 

•

(except where a certificate has not been issued) not accompanied by the certificate of the share to which it relates or such other evidence reasonably required by the directors to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer;

 

•

in respect of more than one class of share; or

 

•

in the case of a transfer to joint holders of a share, the number of joint holders to whom the share is to be transferred exceeds four.

 

Capital variations. We may, by ordinary resolution, consolidate and divide all or any of our share capital into shares of a larger nominal amount than our existing shares or sub-divide our shares, or any of them, into shares of a smaller nominal amount than our existing shares. Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 and any other applicable legislation, we may by special resolution reduce our share capital, any capital redemption reserve fund or any share premium account and may redeem or purchase any of our own shares.

 

Pre-emption rights. There are no rights of pre-emption under our articles of association in respect of transfers of issued ordinary shares. In certain circumstances, our shareholders may have statutory pre-emption rights under the Companies Act 2006 in respect of the allotment of new shares in the company. These statutory pre-emption rights, when applicable, would require us to offer new shares for allotment to existing shareholders on a pro rata basis before allotting them to other persons. In such circumstances, the procedure for the exercise of such statutory pre-emption rights would be set out in the documentation by which such ordinary shares would be offered to our shareholders. These statutory pre-emption rights may be disapplied by a special resolution passed by shareholders in a general meeting in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006.

 

Directors

 

Number. Unless and until we in a general meeting of our shareholders otherwise determine, the number of directors comprising our board of directors shall not be subject to any maximum but shall not be less than two.

 

Classified board of directors. Our board of directors will be divided into three classes, “Class I,” whose initial term shall expire at the annual general meeting of the shareholders to be held in 2020, “Class II,” whose initial term shall expire at the annual general meeting of the shareholders to be held in 2019, and “Class III”, whose initial term shall expire at the annual general meeting of the shareholders to be held in 2018, with the classes as nearly equal in number as possible. At the closing of the offering made hereby, the Class I directors will be                  and                 , the Class II directors will be                  and                 , and the Class III directors will be                  and                 .

 

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Borrowing powers. Our board of directors may exercise all the powers of the company to borrow money, mortgage or charge all or any part or parts of its undertaking, property and uncalled capital, and issue debentures and other securities whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of the company or of any third party.

 

Directors’ interests and restrictions

 

(a) The board of directors may, in accordance with our articles of association and the requirements of the Companies Act 2006, authorize a matter proposed to us which would, if not authorized, involve a breach by a director of his or her duty under section 175 of the Companies Act 2006 to avoid a situation in which he or she has, or can have, a direct or indirect interest that conflicts, or possibly may conflict, with our interests. A director is not required, by reason of being a director, to account to the company for any remuneration or other benefit that he or she derives from a relationship involving a conflict of interest or possible conflict of interest that has been authorized by the board of directors.

 

(b) Subject to the provisions of any relevant legislation and provided that he or she has disclosed to the directors the nature and extent of any material interest of his or hers, a director may be a party to, or otherwise interested in, any transaction, contract or arrangement and that director shall not, by reason of his or her office, be accountable to the company for any benefit that he or she derives from any such transaction or arrangement; and no such transaction or arrangement shall be liable to be voided on the ground of any such interest or benefit.

 

(c) Except as provided in our articles of association, a director shall not vote at a meeting of the directors in respect of any transaction or arrangement or any other proposal whatsoever in which he or she has an interest that is to his or her knowledge material (together with any person connected with him or her within the meaning of section 252 of the Companies Act 2006), other than (i) an interest in shares or debentures or other securities of the company, (ii) where permitted by the terms of any authorization of a conflict of interest or by an ordinary resolution, or (iii) in the circumstances set out in paragraph (d) below, and shall not be counted in the quorum at a meeting in relation to any resolution on which he or she is not entitled to vote.

 

(d) A director shall (in the absence of some material interest other than those indicated below) be entitled to vote (and be counted in the quorum) in respect of any resolution concerning any of the following matters:

 

(i) the giving of any guarantee, security or indemnity to him or her in respect of money lent to or an obligation incurred by him or her at the request of or for the benefit of us or any of our subsidiaries;

 

(ii) the giving to a third party of any guarantee, security or indemnity in respect of a debt or obligation of ours or any of our subsidiaries for which he himself or she herself has assumed responsibility in whole or in part under a guarantee or indemnity or by the giving of security;

 

(iii) any proposal or contract concerning an offer of shares or debentures or other securities of or by the company or any of its subsidiaries, if he or she takes part because he or she is or may be entitled to participate as a holder of shares, debentures or other securities, or if he or she takes part in the underwriting, sub-underwriting or guarantee of the offer;

 

(iv) any proposal concerning any other company in which he or she is interested, directly or indirectly and whether as an officer or shareholder or otherwise, provided that he or she (together with persons connected with him or her) does not to his or her knowledge hold an interest in shares representing one percent or more of the issued shares of any class of such company or of the voting rights available to shareholders of the relevant company;

 

(v) any proposal concerning arrangements pursuant to which benefits are made available to our employees and which does not award him or her any privilege or benefit not generally awarded to the employees to whom such arrangement relates;

 

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(vi) any proposal under which he or she may benefit concerning the giving of indemnities to our directors or other officers that the directors are empowered to give under our articles of association;

 

(vii) any proposal under which he or she may benefit concerning the purchase or maintenance of insurance for any of our directors or other officers; and

 

(viii) any proposal under which he or she may benefit concerning the provision to directors of funds to meet expenditures in defending proceedings.

 

(e) Where proposals are under consideration to appoint two or more directors to offices or employments with us or with any company in which we are interested or to fix or vary the terms of such appointments, such proposals may be divided and considered in relation to each director separately and in such case each of the directors concerned (if not debarred from voting under paragraph (d)(iv) above) shall be entitled to vote (and be counted in the quorum) in respect of each resolution, except that concerning his or her own appointment.

 

(f) If any question shall arise at any meeting as to the materiality of a director’s interest or as to the entitlement of any director to vote and such question is not resolved by his or her agreeing voluntarily to abstain from voting, such question shall be referred to the chairman of the meeting (or where the interest concerns the chairman himself to the deputy chairman of the meeting) and his or her ruling in relation to any director shall be final and conclusive, except in a case where the nature or extent of the interests of the director concerned have not been fairly disclosed.

 

Remuneration

 

(a) Each of the directors (other than alternate directors) may (in addition to any amounts payable under paragraph (b) and (c) below or under any other provision of our articles of association) be paid out of the funds of the company such sum by way of directors’ fees as the board of directors may from time to time determine.

 

(b) Any director who is appointed to hold any employment or executive office with us or who, by our request, goes or resides abroad for any purposes of the company or who otherwise performs services that in the opinion of the board of directors are outside the scope of his or her ordinary duties may be paid such additional remuneration (whether by way of salary, commission, participation in profits or otherwise) as the board of directors (or any duly authorized committee of the board of directors) may determine and either in addition to or in lieu of any remuneration provided for by or pursuant to any other article.

 

(c) Each director may be paid his or her reasonable traveling expenses (including hotel and incidental expenses) of attending and returning from meetings of the directors or committees of the board of directors or general meetings or any separate meeting of the holders of any class of our shares or any other meeting that as a director he or she is entitled to attend and shall be paid all expenses properly and reasonably incurred by him or her in the conduct of the company’s business or in the discharge of his or her duties as a director.

 

Pensions and other benefits. The board of directors may exercise all the powers of the company to provide benefits, either by the payment of gratuities or pensions or by insurance or in any other manner whether similar to the foregoing or not, for any director or former director, or any person who is or was at any time employed by, or held an executive or other office or place of profit in, the company or any body corporate that is or has been a subsidiary of the company or a predecessor of the business of the company or of any such subsidiary and for the families and persons who are or was a dependent of any such persons and for the purpose of providing any such benefits contribute to any scheme trust or fund or pay any premiums.

 

Appointment and retirement of directors

 

(a) The board of directors shall have power to appoint any person who is willing to act to be a director, either to fill a casual vacancy or as an additional director but so that the total number of directors shall not exceed

 

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the maximum number fixed (if any) by or in accordance with our articles of association. Any director so appointed shall retire from office at our annual general meeting following such appointment, and then shall be eligible for re-election for the remaining portion of the term of office of the Class to which he or she is eligible for election.

 

(b) Subject as provided in our articles of association, the shareholders may by ordinary resolution elect any person who is willing to act as a director either to fill a casual vacancy or as an addition to the existing directors or to replace a director removed from office under our articles of association but so that the total number of directors shall not at any one time exceed any maximum number fixed by or in accordance with our articles of association.

 

(c) Subject to paragraph (a) above and the initial terms described in “Description of Share Capital—Articles of Association—Directors—Classified board of directors”, each director within each class shall retire at the third annual general meeting following the annual general meeting at which he or she was elected or last re-elected. Except where there is an increase in the number of directors (in which case the newly created directorships shall be apportioned by our board amongst our existing classes) or in accordance with paragraph (a) above, directors elected or re-elected at an annual general meeting shall be appointed to the class whose term expires at such meeting.

 

(d) A director retiring at an annual general meeting shall be eligible for re-election. If a retiring director is not re-elected, he or she shall hold office until the meeting elects someone in his or her place or, if it does not do so, until the end of the meeting.

 

Company name. The board of directors may resolve to change our company name.

 

Indemnity of officers. Subject to the provisions of any relevant legislation, each of our directors and other officers may be indemnified by us against all costs, charges, losses, expenses and liabilities incurred by him in the execution and discharge of his duties or in relation to those duties. The Companies Act 2006 renders void an indemnity for a director against any liability attaching to him or her in connection with any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the company of which he or she is a director as described in “—Differences in Corporate Law—Liability of Directors and Officers.”

 

Shareholders’ Meetings

 

Annual general meetings. We shall in each year hold an annual general meeting of our shareholders in addition to any other meetings in that year, and shall specify the meeting as such in the notice convening it. The annual general meeting shall be held at such time and place as the board of directors may appoint.

 

Calling of general meetings. The board of directors may call a general meeting of shareholders. The board of directors must call a general meeting if the shareholders and the Companies Act 2006 require them to do so. The arrangements for the calling of general meetings are described in “—Differences in Corporate Law—Notice of General Meetings” below.

 

Quorum of meetings. No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present when the meeting proceeds to business but the absence of a quorum shall not preclude the appointment of a chairman, which shall not be treated as part of the business of a meeting. One or more qualifying persons present at a meeting and between them holding (or being the proxy or corporate representative of the holders of) at least one-third in number of the issued shares (excluding any shares held as treasury shares) entitled to vote on the business to be transacted are a quorum. A qualifying person for these purposes is an individual who is a shareholder, a person authorized to act as the representative of a shareholder (being a corporation) in relation to the meeting or a person appointed as proxy of a shareholder in relation to the meeting.

 

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Other United Kingdom law considerations

 

Mandatory purchases and acquisitions. Pursuant to Sections 979 to 991 of the Companies Act 2006, where a takeover offer has been made for us and the offeror has acquired or unconditionally contracted to acquire not less than 90% in value of the shares to which the offer relates and not less than 90% of the voting rights carried by those shares, the offeror may give notice to the holder of any shares to which the offer relates which the offeror has not acquired or unconditionally contracted to acquire that he wishes to acquire, and is entitled to so acquire, those shares on the same terms as the general offer. The “squeeze-out” of the minority shareholders can be completed at the end of six weeks from the date the notice has been given, subject to the minority shareholders failing to successfully lodge an application to the court to prevent such squeeze-out any time prior to the end of those six weeks, following which the offeror can execute a transfer of the outstanding shares in its favor and pay the consideration to us, to be held on trust for the outstanding minority shareholders. The consideration offered to the outstanding minority shareholders whose shares are compulsorily acquired under the Companies Act 2006 must, in general, be the same as the consideration that was available under the takeover offer.

 

Sell-out. The Companies Act 2006 also gives our minority shareholders a right to be bought out in certain circumstances by an offeror who has made a takeover offer for all of our shares. The holder of shares to which the offer relates, and who has not otherwise accepted the offer, may require the offeror to acquire his shares if, prior to the expiry of the acceptance period for such offer, (i) the offeror has acquired or agreed to acquire not less than 90% in value of our voting shares, and (ii) not less than 90% of the voting rights carried by those shares. The offeror may impose a time limit on the rights of minority shareholders to be bought out that is not less than three months after the end of the acceptance period. If a shareholder exercises his rights to be bought out, the offeror is required to acquire those shares on the terms of this offer or on such other terms as may be agreed.

 

Disclosure of interest in shares. Pursuant to Part 22 of the Companies Act 2006 and our articles of association, we are empowered to require, by notice in writing, any person whom we know to be, or have reasonable cause to believe to be, interested in our shares, or at any time during the three years immediately preceding the date on which the notice is issued has been so interested, within a reasonable time to disclose to us particulars of that person’s own interest and (so far as is within that person’s knowledge) particulars of any other interest, agreement or arrangement relating to the exercise of any rights conferred by the holding of the shares that subsists or subsisted in those shares.

 

Under our articles of association, if a person defaults in supplying us with the required particulars in relation to the shares in question (referred to herein as “default shares”), the board of directors may by notice direct that:

 

•

in respect of the default shares, the relevant shareholder shall not be entitled to vote or exercise any other right conferred by his holding shares in relation to general meetings; or

 

•

where the default shares represent at least 0.25% of their class, (a) any dividend or other money payable in respect of the default shares shall be retained by us without liability to pay interest and, if applicable, any election to receive ordinary shares instead of money in respect of the default shares shall be ineffective; (b) no transfers of shares by the relevant shareholder other than certain approved transfers may be registered (unless the shareholder himself is not in default and the transfer does not relate to default shares) or (c) any shares held by the relevant shareholder in uncertificated form shall be converted into certificated form.

 

Purchase of own shares. Under English law, a limited company may only purchase its own shares out of its distributable profits or the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares made for the purpose of financing the purchase, provided it is are not restricted from doing so by its articles. A limited company may not purchase its own shares if, as a result of the purchase, there would no longer be any issued shares of the company other than redeemable shares or shares held as treasury shares. Shares must be fully paid in order to be repurchased.

 

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We may purchase our own fully paid shares otherwise than on a recognized investment exchange pursuant to a purchase contract authorized by resolution of shareholders before the purchase takes place. Any authority will not be effective if any shareholder from whom we propose to purchase shares votes on the resolution and the resolution would not have been passed if he had not done so. The resolution authorizing the purchase must specify a date, not being later than five years after the passing of the resolution, on which the authority to purchase is to expire.

 

City code on takeovers and mergers, or the Takeover Code. As a public company incorporated in England and Wales with its place of central management and control in the United Kingdom, we are subject to the United Kingdom City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (referred to herein as the Takeover Code). The Takeover Code contains rules concerning the conduct of takeover offers for the company. For example, under Rule 9 of the Takeover Code, if a person:

 

(a) acquires an interest in our shares that, when taken together with shares in which he or persons acting in concert with him are interested, carries 30% or more of the voting rights of our shares; or

 

(b) who, together with persons acting in concert with him, is interested in shares that in the aggregate carry not less than 30% and not more than 50% of the voting rights in the company, acquires additional interests in shares that increase the percentage of shares carrying voting rights in which that person is interested;

 

the acquirer and, depending on the circumstances, its concert parties, would be required (except with the consent of the Takeover Panel) to make a cash offer for our outstanding shares at a price not less than the highest price paid for any interests in the shares by the acquirer or its concert parties during the previous 12 months. Some provisions in the Takeover Code might have anti-takeover effects that could discourage an acquisition of us by others even if an acquisition would be beneficial to our shareholders.

 

Distributions and dividends. Under the Companies Act 2006, before a company can lawfully make a distribution or dividend, it must ensure that it has sufficient distributable reserves (on a non-consolidated basis). The basic rule is that a company’s profits available for the purpose of making a distribution are its accumulated, realized profits, so far as not previously utilized by distribution or capitalization, less its accumulated, realized losses, so far as not previously written off in a reduction or reorganization of capital duly made. The requirement to have sufficient distributable reserves before a distribution or dividend can be paid applies to us and to each of our subsidiaries that has been incorporated under English law.

 

It is not sufficient that we, as a public company, have made a distributable profit for the purpose of making a distribution. An additional capital maintenance requirement is imposed on us to ensure that the net worth of the company is at least equal to the amount of its capital. A public company can only make a distribution:

 

(a) if, at the time that the distribution is made, the amount of its net assets (that is, the total excess of assets over liabilities) is not less than the total of its called up share capital and undistributable reserves; and

 

(b) if, and to the extent that, the distribution itself, at the time that it is made, does not reduce the amount of the net assets to less than that total.

 

Exchange controls. There are no governmental laws, decrees, regulations or other legislation in the United Kingdom that may affect the import or export of capital, including the availability of cash, cash equivalents and short-term deposits for use by us, or that may affect the remittance of dividends, interest, or other payments by us to non-resident holders of our ordinary shares or ADSs, other than withholding tax requirements. There is no limitation imposed by English law or in the articles of association on the right of non-residents to hold or vote shares.

 

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Differences in Corporate Law

 

The applicable provisions of the Companies Act 2006 differ from laws applicable to U.S. corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of certain differences between the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to us and the Delaware General Corporation Law relating to shareholders’ rights and protections. This summary is not intended to be a complete discussion of the respective rights and it is qualified in its entirety by reference to Delaware law and English law.

 

		England and Wales		Delaware
Number of Directors		Under the Companies Act 2006, a public limited company must have at least two directors and the number of directors may be fixed by or in the manner provided in a company’s articles of association.		Under Delaware law, a corporation must have at least one director and the number of directors shall be fixed by or in the manner provided in the bylaws.
Removal of Directors		Under the Companies Act 2006, shareholders may remove a director without cause by an ordinary resolution (which is passed by a simple majority of those voting in person or by proxy at a general meeting) irrespective of any provisions of any service contract the director has with the company, provided 28 clear days’ notice of the resolution has been given to the company and its shareholders. On receipt of notice of an intended resolution to remove a director, the company must forthwith send a copy of the notice to the director concerned. Certain other procedural requirements under the Companies Act 2006 must also be followed such as allowing the director to make representations against his or her removal either at the meeting or in writing.		Under Delaware law, any director or the entire board of directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors, except (a) unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise, in the case of a corporation whose board of directors is classified, shareholders may effect such removal only for cause, or (b) in the case of a corporation having cumulative voting, if less than the entire board of directors is to be removed, no director may be removed without cause if the votes cast against his removal would be sufficient to elect him if then cumulatively voted at an election of the entire board of directors, or, if there are classes of directors, at an election of the class of directors of which he is a part.
Vacancies on the Board of Directors		Under English law, the procedure by which directors (other than a company’s initial directors) are appointed is generally set out in a company’s articles of association, provided that where two or more persons are appointed as directors of a public limited company by resolution of the shareholders at a general meeting, resolutions appointing each director must be voted on individually unless the shareholders present vote to		Under Delaware law, vacancies and newly created directorships may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office (even though less than a quorum) or by a sole remaining director unless (a) otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the corporation or (b) the certificate of incorporation directs that a particular class of stock is to elect such director, in

 

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		disapply this requirement without any vote in opposition.		which case a majority of the other directors elected by such class, or a sole remaining director elected by such class, will fill such vacancy.
Annual General Meeting		Under the Companies Act 2006, a public limited company must hold an annual general meeting in each six-month period following the company’s annual accounting reference date.		Under Delaware law, the annual meeting of stockholders shall be held at such place, on such date and at such time as may be designated from time to time by the board of directors or as provided in the certificate of incorporation or by the bylaws.
General Meeting		Under the Companies Act 2006, a general meeting of the shareholders of a public limited company may be called by the directors.   Shareholders holding at least 5% of the paid-up capital of the company carrying voting rights at general meetings can require the directors to call a general meeting and, if the directors fail to do so within a prescribed period, may themselves call a general meeting.		Under Delaware law, special meetings of the stockholders may be called by the board of directors or by such person or persons as may be authorized by the certificate of incorporation or by the bylaws.
Notice of General Meetings		Under the Companies Act 2006, 21 clear days’ notice must be given for an annual general meeting and any resolutions to be proposed at the meeting. Subject to a company’s articles of association providing for a longer period, at least 14 clear days’ notice is required for any other general meeting. In addition, certain matters, such as resolutions to remove directors or auditors, require special notice, which is 28 clear days’ notice. The shareholders of a company may in all cases consent to a shorter notice period, the proportion of shareholders’ consent required being 100% of those entitled to attend and vote in the case of an annual general meeting and, in the case of any other general meeting, a majority in number of the shareholders having a right to attend and vote at the meeting, being a majority who together hold not less than 95% in nominal value of the shares giving a right to attend and vote at the meeting.		Under Delaware law, unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or bylaws, written notice of any meeting of the stockholders must be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting and shall specify the place, date, hour, and purpose or purposes of the meeting.

 

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Proxy		Under the Companies Act 2006, at any meeting of shareholders, a shareholder may designate another person to attend, speak and vote at the meeting on their behalf by proxy.		Under Delaware law, at any meeting of stockholders, a stockholder may designate another person to act for such stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A director of a Delaware corporation may not issue a proxy representing the director’s voting rights as a director.
Pre-emptive Rights		Under the Companies Act 2006, “equity securities”, being (i) shares in the company other than shares that, with respect to dividends and capital, carry a right to participate only up to a specified amount in a distribution (“ordinary shares”) or (ii) rights to subscribe for, or to convert securities into, ordinary shares, proposed to be allotted for cash must be offered first to the existing equity shareholders in the company in proportion to the respective nominal value of their holdings, unless an exception applies or a special resolution to the contrary has been passed by shareholders in a general meeting or the articles of association provide otherwise (in each case in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006).		Under Delaware law, shareholders have no preemptive rights to subscribe to additional issues of stock or to any security convertible into such stock unless, and except to the extent that, such rights are expressly provided for in the certificate of incorporation.
Authority to Allot		Under the Companies Act 2006, the directors of a company must not allot shares or grant rights to subscribe for or to convert any security into shares unless an exception applies or an ordinary resolution to the contrary has been passed by shareholders in a general meeting or the articles of association provide otherwise (in each case in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006).		Under Delaware law, if the corporation’s charter or certificate of incorporation so provides, the board of directors has the power to authorize the issuance of stock. It may authorize capital stock to be issued for consideration consisting of cash, any tangible or intangible property or any benefit to the corporation or any combination thereof. It may determine the amount of such consideration by approving a formula. In the absence of actual fraud in the transaction, the judgment of the directors as to the value of such consideration is conclusive.
Liability of Directors and Officers		Under the Companies Act 2006, any provision (whether contained in a company’s articles of association or		Under Delaware law, a corporation’s certificate of incorporation may include a

 

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		any contract or otherwise) that purports to exempt a director of a company, to any extent, from any liability that would otherwise attach to him in connection with any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the company is void.   Any provision by which a company directly or indirectly provides an indemnity, to any extent, for a director of the company or of an associated company against any liability attaching to him in connection with any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the company of which he is a director is also void except as permitted by the Companies Act 2006, which provides exceptions for the company to (a) purchase and maintain insurance against such liability; (b) provide a “qualifying third party indemnity”(being an indemnity against liability incurred by the director to a person other than the company or an associated company as long as he is successful in defending the claim or criminal proceedings or in obtaining relief from the court); and (c) provide a “qualifying pension scheme indemnity”(being an indemnity against liability incurred in connection with the company’s activities as trustee of an occupational pension plan).		provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director to the corporation and its stockholders for damages arising from a breach of fiduciary duty as a director. However, no provision can limit the liability of a director for:   •  anybreach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders;   •  actsor omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;   •  intentionalor negligent payment of unlawful dividends or stock purchases or redemptions; or   •  anytransaction from which the director derives an improper personal benefit.
Voting Rights		Under English law, unless a poll is demanded by the shareholders of a company or is required by the chairman of the meeting or by the company’s articles of association, shareholders shall vote on all resolutions on a show of hands. Under the Companies Act 2006, a poll may be demanded by (a) not fewer than five shareholders having the right to vote on the resolution; (b) any shareholder(s) representing not less than 10% of the total voting rights of all the shareholders having the right to vote on the resolution; or (c) any shareholder(s) holding shares in the company conferring a right to vote on the		Delaware law provides that, unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, each stockholder is entitled to one vote for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder.

 

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		resolution being shares on which an aggregate sum has been paid up equal to not less than 10% of the total sum paid up on all the shares conferring that right. A company’s articles of association may provide more extensive rights for shareholders to call a poll.   Under English law, an ordinary resolution is passed on a show of hands if it is approved by a simple majority (more than 50%) of the votes cast by shareholders present (in person or by proxy) and entitled to vote. If a poll is demanded, an ordinary resolution is passed if it is approved by holders representing a simple majority of the total voting rights of shareholders present, in person or by proxy, who, being entitled to vote, vote on the resolution. Special resolutions require the affirmative vote of not less than 75% of the votes cast by shareholders present, in person or by proxy, at the meeting.
Shareholder vote on Certain Transactions		The Companies Act 2006 provides for schemes of arrangement, which are arrangements or compromises between a company and any class of shareholders or creditors that are used in certain types of reconstructions, amalgamations, capital reorganizations or takeovers. These arrangements require:   •  theapproval at a shareholders’ or creditors’ meeting convened by order of the court, of a majority in number of shareholders or creditors representing 75% in value of the capital held by, or debt owed to, the class of shareholders, or class thereof present and voting, either in person or by proxy; and   •  theapproval of the court.		Generally, under Delaware law, unless the certificate of incorporation provides for the vote of a larger portion of the stock, completion of a merger, consolidation, sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of a corporation’s assets or dissolution requires:   •  theapproval of the board of directors; and   •  approvalby the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding stock or, if the certificate of incorporation provides for more or less than one vote per share, a majority of the votes of the outstanding stock of a corporation entitled to vote on the matter.

 

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Standard of Conduct for Directors		Under English law, a director owes various statutory and fiduciary duties to the company, including:   •  toact in the way he considers, in good faith, would be most likely to promote the success of the company for the benefit of its shareholders as a whole, subject in certain specified circumstances to consider or act in the interests of the creditors of the company;   •  toavoid a situation in which he has, or can have, a direct or indirect interest that conflicts, or possibly conflicts, with the interests of the company;   •  toact in accordance with the company’s constitution and only exercise his powers for the purposes for which they are conferred;   •  toexercise independent judgement;   •  toexercise reasonable care, skill and diligence;   •  notto accept benefits from a third party conferred by reason of his being a director or doing, or not doing, anything as a director; and   •  aduty to declare any interest that he has, whether directly or indirectly, in a proposed or existing transaction or arrangement with the company.		Delaware law does not contain specific provisions setting forth the standard of conduct of a director. The scope of the fiduciary duties of directors is generally determined by the courts of the State of Delaware. In general, directors have a duty to act without self-interest, on a well-informed basis and in a manner they reasonably believe to be in the best interest of the stockholders.   Directors of a Delaware corporation owe fiduciary duties of care and loyalty to the corporation and to its shareholders. The duty of care generally requires that a director act in good faith, with the care that an ordinarily prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances. Under this duty, a director must inform himself of all material information reasonably available regarding a significant transaction. The duty of loyalty requires that a director act in a manner he reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation. He must not use his corporate position for personal gain or advantage. In general, but subject to certain exceptions, actions of a director are presumed to have been made on an informed basis, in good faith and in the honest belief that the action taken was in the best interests of the corporation. However, this presumption may be rebutted by evidence of a breach of one of the fiduciary duties. Delaware courts have also imposed a heightened standard of conduct upon directors of a Delaware corporation who take any action designed to defeat a threatened change in control of the corporation.   In addition, under Delaware law, when the board of directors of a Delaware corporation approves the sale or break-up of a corporation,

 

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				the board of directors may, in certain circumstances, have a duty to obtain the highest value reasonably available to the shareholders.
Shareholder Litigation		Under English law, generally, the company, rather than its shareholders, is the proper claimant in an action in respect of a wrong done to the company or where there is an irregularity in the company’s internal management. Notwithstanding this general position, the Companies Act 2006 provides that (i) a court may allow a shareholder to bring a derivative claim (that is, an action in respect of and on behalf of the company) in respect of a cause of action arising from an act or omission involving a director’s negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust and (ii) a shareholder may bring a claim for a court order where the company’s affairs have been or are being conducted in a manner that is unfairly prejudicial to some or all of its shareholders.		Under Delaware law, a stockholder may initiate a derivative action to enforce a right of a corporation if the corporation fails to enforce the right itself. The complaint must:   •  statethat the plaintiff was a stockholder at the time of the transaction of which the plaintiff complains or that the plaintiffs shares thereafter devolved on the plaintiff by operation of law; and   •  allegewith particularity the efforts made by the plaintiff to obtain the action the plaintiff desires from the directors and the reasons for the plaintiff’s failure to obtain the action; or   •  Statethe reasons for not making the effort.   Additionally, the plaintiff must remain a stockholder through the duration of the derivative suit. The action will not be dismissed or compromised without the approval of the Delaware Court of Chancery.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES

 

American Depositary Shares

 

Citibank, N.A., or Citibank, has agreed to act as the depositary for the ADSs. Citibank’s depositary offices are located at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013. ADSs represent ownership interests in securities that are on deposit with the depositary. ADSs may be represented by certificates that are commonly known as American Depositary Receipts, or ADRs. The depositary typically appoints a custodian to safekeep the securities on deposit. In this case, the custodian is Citibank, N.A., London Branch.

 

We have appointed Citibank as depositary pursuant to a deposit agreement. A copy of the deposit agreement is on file with the SEC under cover of a registration statement on Form F-6. You may obtain a copy of the deposit agreement from the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549 and from the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). Please refer to registration number 333-              when retrieving such copy.

 

We are providing you with a summary description of the material terms of the ADSs and of your material rights as an owner of ADSs. Please remember that summaries by their nature lack the precision of the information summarized and that the rights and obligations of an owner of ADSs will be determined by reference to the terms of the deposit agreement and not by this summary. We urge you to review the deposit agreement in its entirety.

 

Each ADS represents the right to receive, and to exercise the beneficial ownership interests in,              ordinary shares that are on deposit with the depositary or custodian. An ADS also represents the right to receive, and to exercise the beneficial interests in, any other property received by the depositary or the custodian on behalf of the owner of the ADS but that has not been distributed to the owners of ADSs because of legal restrictions or practical considerations. We and the depositary may agree to change the ADS-to-share ratio by amending the deposit agreement. This amendment may give rise to, or change, the depositary fees payable by ADS owners. The custodian, the depositary and their respective nominees will hold all deposited property for the benefit of the holders and beneficial owners of ADSs. The deposited property does not constitute the proprietary assets of the depositary, the custodian or their nominees. Beneficial ownership in the deposited property will under the terms of the deposit agreement be vested in the beneficial owners of the ADSs. The depositary, the custodian and their respective nominees will be the record holders of the deposited property represented by the ADSs for the benefit of the holders and beneficial owners of the corresponding ADSs. A beneficial owner of ADSs may or may not be the holder of ADSs. Beneficial owners of ADSs will be able to receive, and to exercise beneficial ownership interests in, the deposited property only through the registered holders of the ADSs, the registered holders of the ADSs (on behalf of the applicable ADS owners) only through the depositary, and the depositary (on behalf of the owners of the corresponding ADSs) directly, or indirectly, through the custodian or their respective nominees, in each case upon the terms of the deposit agreement.

 

If you become an owner of ADSs, you will become a party to the deposit agreement and therefore will be bound to its terms and to the terms of any ADR that represents your ADSs. The deposit agreement and the ADR specify our rights and obligations as well as your rights and obligations as owner of ADSs and those of the depositary. As an ADS holder you appoint the depositary to act on your behalf in certain circumstances. The deposit agreement and the ADRs are governed by New York law. However, our obligations to the holders of ordinary shares will continue to be governed by the laws of England and Wales, which may be different from the laws in the United States.

 

In addition, applicable laws and regulations may require you to satisfy reporting requirements and obtain regulatory approvals in certain circumstances. You are solely responsible for complying with such reporting requirements and obtaining such approvals. Neither the depositary, the custodian, us or any of their or our respective agents or affiliates shall be required to take any actions whatsoever on your behalf to satisfy such

 

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reporting requirements or obtain such regulatory approvals under applicable laws and regulations. You agree to comply with information requests from us pursuant to applicable laws, stock exchange rules and our Articles of Association. We may restrict transfers of ADSs and take other actions necessary to comply with any applicable ownership restrictions.

 

As an owner of ADSs, we will not treat you as one of our shareholders and you will not have direct shareholder rights. The depositary will hold on your behalf the shareholder rights attached to the ordinary shares underlying your ADSs. As an owner of ADSs you will be able to exercise the shareholders rights for the ordinary shares represented by your ADSs through the depositary only to the extent contemplated in the deposit agreement. To exercise any shareholder rights not contemplated in the deposit agreement you will, as an ADS owner, need to arrange for the cancellation of your ADSs and become a direct shareholder.

 

As an owner of ADSs, you may hold your ADSs either by means of an ADR registered in your name, through a brokerage or safekeeping account, or through an account established by the depositary in your name reflecting the registration of uncertificated ADSs directly on the books of the depositary (commonly referred to as the direct registration system or DRS). The direct registration system reflects the uncertificated (book-entry) registration of ownership of ADSs by the depositary. Under the direct registration system, ownership of ADSs is evidenced by periodic statements issued by the depositary to the holders of the ADSs. The direct registration system includes automated transfers between the depositary and The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, the central book-entry clearing and settlement system for equity securities in the United States. If you decide to hold your ADSs through your brokerage or safekeeping account, you must rely on the procedures of your broker or bank to assert your rights as ADS owner. Banks and brokers typically hold securities such as the ADSs through clearing and settlement systems such as DTC. The procedures of such clearing and settlement systems may limit your ability to exercise your rights as an owner of ADSs. Please consult with your broker or bank if you have any questions concerning these limitations and procedures. All ADSs held through DTC will be registered in the name of a nominee of DTC, which nominee will be the only “holder” of such ADSs for purposes of the deposit agreement and any applicable ADR. This summary description assumes you have opted to own the ADSs directly by means of an ADS registered in your name and, as such, we will refer to you as the “holder.” When we refer to “you,” we assume the reader owns ADSs and will own ADSs at the relevant time.

 

The registration of the ordinary shares in the name of the depositary or the custodian shall, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, vest in the depositary or the custodian the record ownership in the applicable ordinary shares with the beneficial ownership rights and interests in such ordinary shares being at all times vested with the beneficial owners of the ADSs representing the ordinary shares. The depositary or the custodian shall at all times be entitled to exercise the beneficial ownership rights in all deposited property, in each case only on behalf of the holders and beneficial owners of the ADSs representing the deposited property.

 

Dividends and Other Distributions

 

As a holder of ADSs, you generally have the right to receive the distributions we make on the securities deposited with the custodian. Your receipt of these distributions may be limited, however, by practical considerations and legal limitations. Holders of ADSs will receive such distributions under the terms of the deposit agreement in proportion to the number of ADSs held as of the specified record date, after deduction the applicable fees, taxes and expenses.

 

Distributions of Cash

 

Whenever we make a cash distribution for the securities on deposit with the custodian, we will deposit the funds with the custodian. Upon receipt of confirmation of the deposit of the requisite funds, the depositary will arrange for the funds to be converted into U.S. dollars and for the distribution of the U.S. dollars to the holders, subject to the laws and regulations of England and Wales. The conversion into U.S. dollars will take place only if practicable and if the U.S. dollars are transferable to the United States. The depositary will apply the same method for distributing the proceeds of the sale of any property (such as undistributed rights) held by the custodian in respect of securities on deposit.

 

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The distribution of cash will be made net of the fees, expenses, taxes and governmental charges payable by holders under the terms of the deposit agreement. The depositary will hold any cash amounts it is unable to distribute in a non-interest bearing account for the benefit of the applicable holders and beneficial owners of ADSs until the distribution can be effected or the funds that the depositary holds must be escheated as unclaimed property in accordance with the laws of the relevant states of the United States and, to the extent provided in the deposit agreement, our Articles of Association.

 

Distributions of Shares

 

Whenever we make a free distribution of ordinary shares for the securities on deposit with the custodian, we will deposit the applicable number of ordinary shares with the custodian. Upon receipt of confirmation of such deposit, the depositary will either distribute to holders new ADSs representing the ordinary shares deposited or modify the ADS-to-ordinary shares ratio, in which case each ADS you hold will represent rights and interests in the additional ordinary shares so deposited. Only whole new ADSs will be distributed. Fractional entitlements will be sold and the proceeds of such sale will be distributed as in the case of a cash distribution.

 

The distribution of new ADSs or the modification of the ADS-to-ordinary shares ratio upon a distribution of ordinary shares will be made net of the fees, expenses, taxes and governmental charges payable by holders under the terms of the deposit agreement. In order to pay such taxes or governmental charges, the depositary may sell all or a portion of the new ordinary shares so distributed.

 

No such distribution of new ADSs will be made if it would violate a law (e.g., the U.S. securities laws) or if it is not operationally practicable. If the depositary does not distribute new ADSs as described above, it may sell the ordinary shares received upon the terms described in the deposit agreement and will distribute the proceeds of the sale as in the case of a distribution of cash.

 

Distributions of Rights

 

Whenever we intend to distribute rights to purchase additional ordinary shares, we will give prior notice to the depositary and we will assist the depositary in determining whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to distribute rights to purchase additional ADSs to holders.

 

The depositary will establish procedures to distribute rights to purchase additional ADSs to holders and to enable such holders to exercise such rights if it is lawful and reasonably practicable to make the rights available to holders of ADSs, and if we provide all of the documentation contemplated in the deposit agreement (such as opinions to address the lawfulness of the transaction). You may have to pay fees, expenses, taxes and other governmental charges to subscribe for the new ADSs upon the exercise of your rights. The depositary is not obligated to establish procedures to facilitate the distribution and exercise by holders of rights to purchase new ordinary shares other than in the form of ADSs.

 

The depositary will not distribute the rights to you if:

 

•

we do not timely request that the rights be distributed to you or we request that the rights not be distributed to you; or

 

•

we fail to deliver satisfactory documents to the depositary; or

 

•

it is not reasonably practicable to distribute the rights.

 

The depositary will sell the rights that are not exercised or not distributed if such sale is lawful and reasonably practicable. The proceeds of such sale will be distributed to holders as in the case of a cash distribution. If the depositary is unable to sell the rights, it will allow the rights to lapse.

 

Elective Distributions

 

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elective distribution to be made available to you. In such case, we will assist the depositary in determining whether such distribution is lawful and reasonably practicable.

 

The depositary will make the election available to you only if it is reasonably practicable and if we have provided all of the documentation contemplated in the deposit agreement. In such case, the depositary will establish procedures to enable you to elect to receive either cash or additional ADSs, in each case as described in the deposit agreement.

 

If the election is not made available to you, you will receive either cash or additional ADSs, depending on what a shareholder in England and Wales would receive upon failing to make an election, as more fully described in the deposit agreement.

 

Other Distributions

 

Whenever we intend to distribute property other than cash, ordinary shares or rights to purchase additional ordinary shares, we will notify the depositary in advance and will indicate whether we wish such distribution to be made to you. If so, we will assist the depositary in determining whether such distribution to holders is lawful and reasonably practicable.

 

If it is reasonably practicable to distribute such property to you and if we provide all of the documentation contemplated in the deposit agreement, the depositary will distribute the property to the holders in a manner it deems practicable.

 

The distribution will be made net of fees, expenses, taxes and governmental charges payable by holders under the terms of the deposit agreement. In order to pay such taxes and governmental charges, the depositary may sell all or a portion of the property received.

 

The depositary will not distribute the property to you and will sell the property if:

 

•

we do not request that the property be distributed to you or if we ask that the property not be distributed to you; or

 

•

we do not deliver satisfactory documents to the depositary; or

 

•

the depositary determines that all or a portion of the distribution to you is not reasonably practicable.

 

The proceeds of such a sale will be distributed to holders as in the case of a cash distribution.

 

Redemption

 

Whenever we decide to redeem any of the securities on deposit with the custodian, we will notify the depositary in advance. If it is practicable and if we provide all of the documentation contemplated in the deposit agreement, the depositary will provide notice of the redemption to the holders.

 

The custodian will be instructed to surrender the shares being redeemed against payment of the applicable redemption price. The depositary will convert the redemption funds received into U.S. dollars upon the terms of the deposit agreement and will establish procedures to enable holders to receive the net proceeds from the redemption upon surrender of their ADSs to the depositary. You may have to pay fees, expenses, taxes and other governmental charges upon the redemption of your ADSs. If less than all ADSs are being redeemed, the ADSs to be retired will be selected by lot or on a pro rata basis, as the depositary may determine.

 

Changes Affecting Ordinary Shares

 

The ordinary shares held on deposit for your ADSs may change from time to time. For example, there may be a change in nominal or par value, split-up, cancellation, consolidation or any other reclassification of such ordinary shares or a recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale of assets of our company.

 

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If any such change were to occur, your ADSs would, to the extent permitted by law, represent the right to receive the property received or exchanged in respect of the ordinary shares held on deposit. The depositary may in such circumstances deliver new ADSs to you, amend the deposit agreement, the ADRs and the applicable registration statement(s) on Form F-6, call for the exchange of your existing ADSs for new ADSs and take any other actions that are appropriate to reflect as to the ADSs the change affecting the ordinary shares. If the depositary may not lawfully distribute such property to you, the depositary may sell such property and distribute the net proceeds to you as in the case of a cash distribution.

 

Issuance of ADSs upon Deposit of Ordinary Shares

 

Upon closing of this offering, the ordinary shares being offered pursuant to this prospectus will be deposited by us with the custodian. Upon receipt of confirmation of such deposit, the depositary will issue ADSs to the underwriters named in this prospectus.

 

After the closing of this offering, the depositary may create ADSs on your behalf if you or your broker deposit ordinary shares with the custodian. The depositary will deliver these ADSs to the person you indicate only after you pay any applicable issuance fees and any charges and taxes payable for the transfer of the ordinary shares to the custodian and provide such documentation as may be required pursuant to the deposit agreement. Your ability to deposit ordinary shares and receive ADSs may be limited by U.S. and England and Wales legal considerations applicable at the time of deposit.

 

The issuance of ADSs may be delayed until the depositary or the custodian receives confirmation that all required approvals have been given and that the ordinary shares have been duly transferred to the custodian. The depositary will only issue ADSs in whole numbers.

 

When you make a deposit of ordinary shares, you will be responsible for transferring good and valid title to the depositary. As such, you will be deemed to represent and warrant that:

 

•

the ordinary shares are duly authorized, validly allotted and issued, fully paid, not subject to any call for the payment of further capital and legally obtained;

 

•

all preemptive (and similar) rights, if any, with respect to such ordinary shares have been validly waived, disapplied or exercised;

 

•

you are duly authorized to deposit the ordinary shares;

 

•

the ordinary shares presented for deposit are free and clear of any lien, encumbrance, security interest, charge, mortgage or adverse claim, and are not, and the ADSs issuable upon such deposit will not be, “restricted securities” (as defined in the deposit agreement); and

 

•

the ordinary shares presented for deposit have not been stripped of any rights or entitlements.

 

If any of the representations or warranties are incorrect in any way, we and the depositary may, at your cost and expense, take any and all actions necessary to correct the consequences of the misrepresentations.

 

Transfer, Combination and Split Up of ADRs

 

As an ADR holder, you will be entitled to transfer, combine or split up your ADRs and the ADSs evidenced thereby. For transfers of ADRs, you will have to surrender the ADRs to be transferred to the depositary and also must:

 

•

ensure that the surrendered ADR is properly endorsed or otherwise in proper form for transfer;

 

•

provide such proof of identity and genuineness of signatures, and of such other matters contemplated in the deposit agreement, as the depositary deems appropriate;

 

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•

comply with applicable laws and regulations, including regulations imposed by us and the depositary consistent with the deposit agreement, the ADR and applicable law;

 

•

provide any transfer stamps required by the State of New York or the United States; and

 

•

pay all applicable fees, charges, expenses, taxes and other government charges payable by ADR holders pursuant to the terms of the deposit agreement, upon the transfer of ADRs.

 

To have your ADRs either combined or split up, you must surrender the ADRs in question to the depositary with your request to have them combined or split up, and you must pay all applicable fees, charges and expenses payable by ADR holders, pursuant to the terms of the deposit agreement, upon a combination or split up of ADRs.

 

Withdrawal of Ordinary Shares Upon Cancellation of ADSs

 

As a holder, you will be entitled to present your ADSs to the depositary for cancellation and then receive the corresponding number of underlying ordinary shares at the custodian’s offices. Your ability to withdraw the ordinary shares held in respect of the ADSs may be limited by U.S. and England and Wales considerations applicable at the time of withdrawal. In order to withdraw the ordinary shares represented by your ADSs, you will be required to pay to the depositary the fees for cancellation of ADSs and any charges and taxes payable upon the transfer of the ordinary shares. You assume the risk for delivery of all funds and securities upon withdrawal. Once canceled, the ADSs will not have any rights under the deposit agreement.

 

If you hold ADSs registered in your name, the depositary may ask you to provide proof of identity and genuineness of any signature and such other documents as the depositary may deem appropriate before it will cancel your ADSs. The withdrawal of the ordinary shares represented by your ADSs may be delayed until the depositary receives satisfactory evidence of compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Please keep in mind that the depositary will only accept ADSs for cancellation that represent a whole number of securities on deposit.

 

You will have the right to withdraw the securities represented by your ADSs at any time except as a result of:

 

•

temporary delays that may arise because (i) the transfer books for the ordinary shares or ADSs are closed, or (ii) ordinary shares are immobilized on account of a shareholders’ meeting or a payment of dividends;

 

•

obligations to pay fees, taxes and similar charges; or

 

•

restrictions imposed because of laws or regulations applicable to ADSs or the withdrawal of securities on deposit.

 

The deposit agreement may not be modified to impair your right to withdraw the securities represented by your ADSs except to comply with mandatory provisions of law.

 

Voting Rights

 

As a holder, you generally have the right under the deposit agreement to instruct the depositary to exercise the voting rights for the ordinary shares represented by your ADSs. The voting rights of holders of ordinary shares are described in “Description of Share Capital—Articles of Association” in this prospectus.

 

At our request, the depositary will distribute to you any notice of shareholders’ meeting received from us together with information explaining how to instruct the depositary to exercise the voting rights of the securities represented by ADSs.

 

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If the depositary timely receives voting instructions from a holder of ADSs, it will endeavor to vote the securities (in person or by proxy) represented by the holder’s ADSs as follows:

 

•

In the event of voting by show of hands, the depositary will vote (or cause the custodian to vote) all ordinary held on deposit at that time in accordance with the voting instructions received from a majority of holders of ADSs who provide timely voting instructions.

 

•

In the event of voting by poll, the depositary will vote (or cause the custodian to vote) the ordinary shares held on deposit in accordance with the voting instructions received from the holders of ADSs.

 

The depositary will not join in demanding a vote by poll.

 

Securities for which no voting instructions have been received will not be voted (except as otherwise contemplated herein). If voting is by poll and the depositary does not receive timely voting instructions from a holder of ADSs, such holder shall be deemed to have instructed the depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us to vote the deposited securities represented by such ADSs in any manner such person wishes, which may not be in your best interests; provided, however, that no such discretionary proxy shall be given with respect to any matter to be voted upon as to which we inform the depositary that (a) we do not wish such proxy to be given, (b) substantial opposition exists, or (c) the rights of holders of deposited securities may be adversely affected. Please note that the ability of the depositary to carry out voting instructions may be limited by practical and legal limitations and the terms of the securities on deposit. We cannot assure you that you will receive voting materials in time to enable you to return voting instructions to the depositary in a timely manner.

 

Fees and Charges

 

As an ADS holder, you will be required to pay the following fees under the terms of the deposit agreement:

 

Service		Fee
Issuance of ADSs (e.g., an issuance of ADS upon a deposit of ordinary shares or upon a change in the ADS(s)-to-ordinary shares ratio), excluding ADS issuances as a result of distributions of ordinary shares		Up to $0.05 per ADS issued
Cancellation of ADSs (e.g., a cancellation of ADSs for delivery of deposited property or upon a change in the ADS(s)-to-ordinary shares ratio)		Up to $0.05 per ADS cancelled
Distribution of cash dividends or other cash distributions (e.g., upon a sale of rights and other entitlements)		Up to $0.05 per ADS held
Distribution of ADSs pursuant to (i) share dividends or other distributions, or (ii) exercise of rights to purchase additional ADSs		Up to $0.05 per ADS held
Distribution of securities other than ADSs or rights to purchase additional ADSs (e.g., upon a spin-off)		Up to $0.05 per ADS held
ADS services		Up to $0.05 per ADS held on the applicable record date(s) established by the depositary

 

As an ADS holder you will also be responsible to pay certain charges such as:

 

•

taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) and other governmental charges;

 

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•

the registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of ordinary shares on the share register and applicable to transfers of ordinary shares to or from the name of the custodian, the depositary or any nominees upon the making of deposits and withdrawals, respectively;

 

•

certain cable, telex and facsimile transmission and delivery expenses;

 

•

the expenses and charges incurred by the depositary in the conversion of foreign currency;

 

•

the fees and expenses incurred by the depositary in connection with compliance with exchange control regulations and other regulatory requirements applicable to ordinary shares, ADSs and ADRs; and

 

•

the fees and expenses incurred by the depositary, the custodian, or any nominee in connection with the servicing or delivery of deposited property.

 

ADS fees and charges payable upon (i) the issuance of ADSs, and (ii) the cancellation of ADSs are charged to the person to whom the ADSs are issued (in the case of ADS issuances) and to the person whose ADSs are cancelled (in the case of ADS cancellations). In the case of ADSs issued by the depositary into DTC, the ADS issuance and cancellation fees and charges may be deducted from distributions made through DTC, and may be charged to the DTC participant(s) receiving the ADSs being issued or the DTC participant(s) holding the ADSs being cancelled, as the case may be, on behalf of the beneficial owner(s) and will be charged by the DTC participant(s) to the account of the applicable beneficial owner(s) in accordance with the procedures and practices of the DTC participants as in effect at the time. ADS fees and charges in respect of distributions and the ADS service fee are charged to the holders as of the applicable ADS record date. In the case of distributions of cash, the amount of the applicable ADS fees and charges is deducted from the funds being distributed. In the case of (i) distributions other than cash and (ii) the ADS service fee, holders as of the ADS record date will be invoiced for the amount of the ADS fees and charges and such ADS fees and charges may be deducted from distributions made to holders of ADSs. For ADSs held through DTC, the ADS fees and charges for distributions other than cash and the ADS service fee may be deducted from distributions made through DTC, and may be charged to the DTC participants in accordance with the procedures and practices prescribed by DTC and the DTC participants in turn charge the amount of such ADS fees and charges to the beneficial owners for whom they hold ADSs.

 

In the event of refusal to pay the depositary fees or charges, the depositary may, under the terms of the deposit agreement, refuse the requested service until payment is received or may set off the amount of the depositary fees and charges from any distribution to be made to the ADS holder.

 

Certain of the depositary fees and charges (such as the ADS services fee) may become payable shortly after the closing of the ADS offering. Note that the fees and charges you may be required to pay may vary over time and may be changed by us and by the depositary. You will receive prior notice of such changes. The depositary may reimburse us for certain expenses incurred by us in respect of the ADR program, by making available a portion of the ADS fees charged in respect of the ADR program or otherwise, upon such terms and conditions as we and the depositary agree from time to time.

 

Amendments and Termination

 

We may agree with the depositary to modify the deposit agreement at any time without your consent. We undertake to give ADS holders 30 days’ prior notice of any modifications that would materially prejudice any of their substantial rights under the deposit agreement. We will not consider to be materially prejudicial to your substantial rights any modifications or supplements that are reasonably necessary for the ADSs to be registered under the Securities Act or to be eligible for book-entry settlement, in each case without imposing or increasing the fees and charges you are required to pay. In addition, we may not be able to provide you with prior notice of any modifications or supplements that are required to accommodate compliance with applicable provisions of law.

 

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You will be bound by the modifications to the deposit agreement if you continue to hold your ADSs after the modifications to the deposit agreement become effective. The deposit agreement cannot be amended to prevent you from withdrawing the ordinary shares represented by your ADSs (except as permitted by law).

 

We have the right to direct the depositary to terminate the deposit agreement. Similarly, the depositary may in certain circumstances on its own initiative terminate the deposit agreement. In either case, the depositary must give notice to the holders at least 30 days before termination. Until termination, your rights under the deposit agreement will be unaffected.

 

Termination

 

After termination, the depositary will continue to collect distributions received (but will not distribute any such property until you request the cancellation of your ADSs) and may sell the securities held on deposit. After the sale, the depositary will hold the proceeds from such sale and any other funds then held for the holders of ADSs in a non-interest bearing account. At that point, the depositary will have no further obligations to ADS holders other than to account for the funds then held for the holders of ADSs still outstanding (after deduction of applicable fees, taxes and expenses).

 

In connection with the termination of the deposit agreement, the depositary may, but shall not be obligated to, independently and without the need for any action by us, make available to holders a means to withdraw the ordinary shares and other deposited securities represented by their ADSs and to direct the deposit of such ordinary shares and other deposited securities into an unsponsored American depositary shares program established by the depositary, upon such terms and conditions as the depositary may deem reasonably appropriate, subject however, in each case, to satisfaction of the applicable registration requirements by the unsponsored American depositary shares program under the Securities Act, and to receipt by the depositary of payment of the applicable fees and charges of, and reimbursement of the applicable expenses incurred by, the depositary.

 

Books of Depositary

 

The depositary will maintain ADS holder records at its depositary office. You may inspect such records at such office during regular business hours but solely for the purpose of communicating with other holders in the interest of business matters relating to the ADSs and the deposit agreement.

 

The depositary will maintain in New York facilities to record and process the issuance, cancellation, combination, split-up and transfer of ADSs. These facilities may be closed from time to time, to the extent not prohibited by law.

 

Transmission of Notices, Reports and Proxy Soliciting Material

 

The depositary will make available for your inspection at its office all communications that it receives from us as a holder of deposited securities that we make generally available to holders of deposited securities. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, the depositary will send you copies of those communications or otherwise make those communications available to you if we ask it to.

 

Limitations on Obligations and Liabilities

 

The deposit agreement limits our obligations and the depositary’s obligations to you. Please note the following:

 

•

We and the depositary are obligated only to take the actions specifically stated in the deposit agreement without negligence or bad faith.

 

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•

The depositary disclaims any liability for any failure to carry out voting instructions, for any manner in which a vote is cast or for the effect of any vote, provided it acts in good faith and in accordance with the terms of the deposit agreement.

 

•

The depositary disclaims any liability for any failure to accurately determine the lawfulness or practicality of any action, for the content of any document forwarded to you on our behalf or for the accuracy of any translation of such a document, for the investment risks associated with investing in ordinary shares, for the validity or worth of the ordinary shares, for any tax consequences that result from the ownership of ADSs or other deposited property, for the credit-worthiness of any third party, for allowing any rights to lapse under the terms of the deposit agreement, for the timeliness of any of our notices or for our failure to give notice or for any act or omission of or information provided by DTC or any DTC participant.

 

•

The depositary shall not be liable for acts or omissions of any successor depositary in connection with any matter arising wholly after the resignation or removal of the depositary.

 

•

We and the depositary will not be obligated to perform any act that is inconsistent with the terms of the deposit agreement.

 

•

We and the depositary disclaim any liability if we or the depositary are prevented or forbidden from or subject to any civil or criminal penalty or restraint on account of, or delayed in, doing or performing any act or thing required by the terms of the deposit agreement, by reason of any provision, present or future of any law or regulation, including regulations of any stock exchange or by reason of present or future provisions of our Articles of Association, or any provision of or governing the securities on deposit, or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstances beyond our or the depositary’s control.

 

•

We and the depositary disclaim any liability by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in the deposit agreement or in our Articles of Association or in any provisions of or governing the securities on deposit.

 

•

We and the depositary further disclaim any liability for any action or inaction in reliance on the advice or information received from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting ordinary shares for deposit, any holder of ADSs or authorized representatives thereof, or any other person believed by either of us in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information.

 

•

We and the depositary also disclaim liability for the inability by any ADS holder or beneficiary owner to benefit from any distribution, offering, right or other benefit that is made available to holders of ordinary shares but is not, under the terms of the deposit agreement, made available to you.

 

•

We and the depositary may rely without any liability upon any written notice, request or other document believed to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper parties.

 

•

We and the depositary also disclaim liability for any consequential or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of the deposit agreement.

 

•

We and the depositary disclaim liability arising out of losses, liabilities, taxes, charges or expenses resulting from the manner in which a holder or beneficial owner of ADSs holds ADSs, including resulting from holding ADSs through a brokerage account.

 

•

No disclaimer of any Securities Act liability is intended by any provision of the deposit agreement.

 

Pre-Release Transactions

 

Subject to the terms and conditions of the deposit agreement, the depositary may issue to broker/dealers ADSs before receiving a deposit of ordinary shares or release ordinary shares to broker/dealers before receiving ADSs for cancellation. These transactions are commonly referred to as “pre-release transactions,” and are entered into between the depositary and the applicable broker/dealer. The deposit agreement limits the aggregate size of pre-release transactions (not to exceed 30% of the ordinary shares on deposit in the aggregate, such limit being subject to change or disregard in the depositary’s discretion) and imposes a number of conditions on such transactions (e.g., the need to receive collateral, the type of collateral required, the representations required from brokers, etc.). The depositary may retain the compensation received from the pre-release transactions.

 

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Taxes

 

You will be responsible for the taxes and other governmental charges payable on the ADSs and the securities represented by the ADSs. We, the depositary and the custodian may deduct from any distribution the taxes and governmental charges payable by ADS holders and may sell any and all property on deposit to pay the taxes and governmental charges payable by ADS holders. You will be liable for any deficiency if the sale proceeds do not cover the taxes that are due.

 

The depositary may refuse to issue ADSs, to deliver, transfer, split and combine ADRs or to release securities on deposit until all taxes and charges are paid by the applicable ADS holder. The depositary and the custodian may take reasonable administrative actions to obtain tax refunds and reduced tax withholding for any distributions on your behalf. However, you may be required to provide to the depositary and to the custodian proof of taxpayer status and residence and such other information as the depositary and the custodian may require to fulfill legal obligations. You are required to indemnify us, the depositary and the custodian for any claims with respect to taxes based on any tax benefit obtained for you.

 

Foreign Currency Conversion

 

The depositary will arrange for the conversion of all foreign currency received into U.S. dollars if such conversion is practical, and it will distribute the U.S. dollars in accordance with the terms of the deposit agreement. You may have to pay fees and expenses incurred in converting foreign currency, such as fees and expenses incurred in complying with currency exchange controls and other governmental requirements.

 

If the conversion of foreign currency is not practical or lawful, or if any required approvals are denied or not obtainable at a reasonable cost or within a reasonable period, the depositary may take any of the following actions in its discretion:

 

•

Convert the foreign currency to the extent practical and lawful and distribute the U.S. dollars to the ADS holders for whom the conversion and distribution is lawful and practical.

 

•

Distribute the foreign currency to ADS holders for whom the distribution is lawful and practical.

 

•

Hold the foreign currency (without liability for interest) for the applicable ADS holders.

 

Governing Law/Waiver of Jury Trial

 

The deposit agreement and the ADRs will be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. The rights of holders of ordinary shares (including ordinary shares represented by ADSs) are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

 

AS A PARTY TO THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT, YOU WAIVE YOUR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT OR THE ADRs AGAINST US OR THE DEPOSITARY.

 

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SHARES AND ADSs ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

 

Before this offering, there has been no public market for our ordinary shares. Upon completion of this offering, we will have outstanding              ordinary shares, and                 ADSs, after giving effect to the sale of              ADSs in this offering, assuming no exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option to purchase additional ADSs from us. All of the ADSs to be sold in this offering will be freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act unless purchased by our “affiliates,” as that term is defined in Rule 144. ADSs or ordinary shares purchased by our affiliates may not be resold except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an exemption from registration, including the safe harbor under Rule 144 described below. In addition, following this offering, ordinary shares issuable pursuant to awards granted under our equity plans that are covered by a registration statement on Form S-8 will be freely tradable in the public market, subject to contractual and legal restrictions described below. The remaining ordinary shares outstanding after this offering will be “restricted securities,” as that term is defined in Rule 144, and we expect that substantially all of these restricted securities will be subject to the lock-up agreements described below. These restricted securities may be sold in the public market only if the sale is registered or pursuant to an exemption from registration, such as Rule 144.

 

Lock-Up Agreements

 

All of our directors and officers and the other existing holders of substantially all of our equity have agreed, subject to limited exceptions, not to offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position, with respect to, any ADSs, ordinary shares or securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for ADSs or ordinary shares of the Company, or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction, for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, without the prior written consent of the representatives of the underwriters. See the section titled “Underwriting.”

 

Rule 144

 

In general, a person who has beneficially owned our ordinary shares or ADSs that are restricted securities for at least six months would be entitled to sell such securities, provided that (i) such person is not deemed to have been one of our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the 90 days preceding, a sale and (ii) we are subject to the Exchange Act periodic reporting requirements for at least 90 days before the sale. Persons who have beneficially owned our ordinary shares or ADSs that are restricted securities for at least six months but who are our affiliates at the time of, or any time during the 90 days preceding, a sale, would be subject to additional restrictions, by which such person would be entitled to sell within any three-month period only a number of securities that does not exceed the greater of either of the following:

 

•

1% of the number of our ordinary shares then outstanding, which will equal approximately             ordinary shares or              ADSs immediately after this offering, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option; or

 

•

the average weekly trading volume of our ordinary shares in the form of ADSs on the Nasdaq during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale; provided, in each case, that we are subject to the Exchange Act periodic reporting requirements for at least 90 days before the sale. Such sales both by affiliates and by non-affiliates must also comply with the manner of sale, current public information and notice provisions of Rule 144 to the extent applicable.

 

Regulation S

 

Regulation S under the Securities Act provides that securities owned by any person may be sold without registration in the United States, provided that the sale is effected in an offshore transaction and no directed

 

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selling efforts are made in the United States (as these terms are defined in Regulation S), subject to certain other conditions. In general, this means that our ordinary shares may be sold in some manner outside the United States without requiring registration in the United States.

 

Rule 701

 

In general, under Rule 701 of the Securities Act as currently in effect, each of our employees, consultants or advisors who purchases our ordinary shares from us in connection with a compensatory share plan or other written agreement executed prior to the completion of this offering is eligible to resell such ordinary shares in reliance on Rule 144, but without compliance with some of the restrictions, including the holding period, contained in Rule 144.

 

Equity Incentive Plans

 

We intend to file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act covering the ordinary shares or ADSs reserved for issuance under our equity incentive plans. The registration statement is expected to be filed and become effective as soon as practicable after the closing of this offering. Accordingly, ordinary shares or ADSs registered under the registration statement will be available for sale in the open market following its effective date, subject to Rule 144 volume limitations and the lock-up agreements described above, if applicable.

 

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TAXATION

 

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

 

The following discussion describes the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. Holders (as defined below) under present law of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the ADSs. This discussion is based on the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended or the Code for purposes of this discussion, in effect as of the date of this prospectus and on U.S. Treasury regulations in effect or, in some cases, proposed, as of the date of this prospectus, as well as judicial and administrative interpretations thereof available on or before such date. All of the foregoing authorities are subject to change, which change could apply retroactively and could affect the tax consequences described below.

 

This discussion applies only to U.S. Holders that acquire the ADSs in the initial offering and hold the ADSs as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes. It does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all tax considerations that may be relevant to a decision to purchase the ADSs by any particular investor. In particular, this discussion does not address tax considerations applicable to a U.S. Holder that may be subject to special tax rules, including, without limitation, a dealer in securities or currencies, a trader in securities that elects to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for securities holdings, banks, thrifts, or other financial institutions, an insurance company, a tax-exempt organization, a person that holds the ADSs as part of a hedge, straddle or conversion transaction for tax purposes, a person whose functional currency for tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar, certain former citizens or residents of the United States or a person that owns directly, indirectly or constructively 10% or more of the company’s voting shares. Moreover, this description does not address the U.S. federal estate, gift, or alternative minimum tax consequences, or any state, local or non-U.S. tax consequences, of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the ADSs. In addition, the discussion does not address tax consequences to an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes that holds the ADSs, or a partner in such partnership. The U.S. federal income tax treatment of each partner of such partnership generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Prospective purchasers that are partners in a partnership holding the ADSs are urged to consult their own tax advisers.

 

The discussion below of the U.S. federal income tax consequences to “U.S. Holders” will apply to an investor that is a beneficial owner of ADSs and that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes,

 

•

an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

•

a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) organized under the laws of the United States, any state therein or the District of Columbia;

 

•

an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

 

•

a trust that (i) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and subject to the control of one or more U.S. persons for all substantial decisions or (ii) has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.

 

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, a beneficial owner of ADSs generally will be treated as the owner of the underlying ordinary shares represented by such ADSs. Accordingly, deposits or withdrawals of the underlying ordinary shares for ADSs generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax.

 

Prospective purchases are urged to consult their tax advisors about the application of the U.S. federal income tax rules to their particular circumstances as well as the state, local, non-U.S. and other tax consequences to them of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the ADSs.

 

Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations

 

In general, a corporation organized outside the United States will be classified as a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, in a particular taxable year if either (i) 75% or more of the corporation’s gross

 

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income for the taxable year is passive income or (ii) on average at least 50% of the value of the corporation’s assets produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income. Passive income for this purpose generally includes, among other things, certain dividends, interest, royalties, rents and gains from commodities and securities transactions and from the sale or exchange of property that gives rise to passive income.

 

In making this determination, we will be treated as earning our proportionate share of any income and owning our proportionate share of any assets of any corporation in which we hold a 25% or greater interest (by value). Because PFIC status must be determined annually based on tests which are factual in nature, our PFIC status will depend on our income, assets and activities each year, including whether certain research and development tax credits received from the government of the United Kingdom will constitute gross income, and, if they do, whether they will constitute passive income for purposes of the PFIC income test. If we are classified as a PFIC for any taxable year, a U.S. Holder may be able to mitigate some of the resulting adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences described below with respect to owning the ADSs, provided that such U.S. Holder is eligible to make, and validly makes a “mark-to-market” election, described below. In certain circumstances a U.S. Holder can make a “qualified electing fund” election to mitigate some of the adverse tax consequences described with respect to an ownership interest in a PFIC by including in income its share of the PFIC’s income on a current basis. However, we do not currently intend to prepare or provide the information that would enable a U.S. Holder to make a qualified electing fund election.

 

In the event that we are classified as a PFIC in any year in which a U.S. Holder holds the ADSs, and the “mark-to-market” election described below is not made by a taxable U.S. Holder, a special tax regime will apply with respect to such U.S. Holder to both (a) any gain realized on the sale or other disposition of the ADSs and (b) any “excess distribution” by us to such U.S. Holder (generally, such U.S. Holder’s ratable portion of distributions received by such U.S. Holder in any year which are greater than 125% of the average annual distribution received by such U.S. Holder in the shorter of the three preceding years or such U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ADSs). Any gain recognized by such U.S. Holder on a sale or other disposition (including a pledge) of the ADSs and any excess distribution would be allocated ratably over such U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ADSs. The amounts allocated to the taxable year of the sale or other disposition and to any year before we became a PFIC would be taxed as ordinary income. The amount allocated to each other taxable year would be subject to tax at the highest rate in effect for individuals or corporations, as appropriate, for that taxable year, and the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax would be imposed on taxes deemed to have been payable in for the relevant taxable PFIC years. Classification as a PFIC may also have other adverse tax consequences, including, in the case of U.S. Holders that are individuals, the denial of a step-up in the basis of such U.S. Holder’s ADSs at death.

 

Based on current estimates of our gross income and gross assets, the nature of our business and our current business plan (all of which are subject to change), we believe that we will not be classified as a PFIC for the year ending December 31, 2017. The PFIC tests must be applied each year, and it is possible that we may become a PFIC in a future year.

 

Mark-to-Market Election

 

If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds the ADSs, then in lieu of being subject to the special tax regime and interest charge rules discussed above, a U.S. Holder may make an election to include gain on the ADSs as ordinary income under a mark-to-market method, provided that the ADSs are treated as “regularly traded” on a “qualified exchange.” In general, the ADSs will be treated as “regularly traded” for a given calendar year if more than a de minimis quantity of the ADSs are traded on a qualified exchange on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter of such calendar year. Although the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, has not published any authority identifying specific exchanges that may constitute “qualified exchanges,” Treasury Regulations provide that a qualified exchange is (a) a U.S. securities exchange that is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, (b) the U.S. market system established pursuant to section 11A of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, or (c) a non-U.S. securities exchange that is

 

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regulated or supervised by a governmental authority of the country in which the market is located, provided that (i) such non-U.S. exchange has trading volume, listing, financial disclosure, surveillance and other requirements designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open, fair and orderly, market, and to protect investors; and the laws of the country in which such non-U.S. exchange is located and the rules of such non-U.S. exchange ensure that such requirements are actually enforced and (ii) the rules of such non-U.S. exchange effectively promote active trading of listed shares. We intend to apply to have our ADSs listed on the Nasdaq Global Market, which is a U.S. securities exchange that is registered with the SEC. However, no assurance can be given that the ADSs will meet the requirements to be treated as “regularly traded” for purposes of the mark-to-market election. In addition, because a mark-to-market election cannot be made for any lower-tier PFICs that we may own, a U.S. Holder may continue to be subject to the special tax regime with respect to such holder’s indirect interest in any investments held by us that are treated as an equity interest in a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes, including shares in any future subsidiary of ours that is treated as a PFIC.

 

If a U.S. Holder makes this mark-to-market election, such U.S. Holder will be required in any year in which we are a PFIC to include as ordinary income the excess of the fair market value of such U.S. Holder’s ADSs at year-end over its basis in those ADSs. In addition, the excess, if any, of such U.S. Holder’s basis in the ADSs over the fair market value of such U.S. Holder’s ADSs at year-end is deductible as an ordinary loss in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the amount of the excess or (ii) the amount of the net mark-to-market gains that have been included in income in prior years by such U.S. Holder. Any gain recognized by such U.S. Holder upon the sale of such U.S. Holder’s ADSs will be taxed as ordinary income in the year of sale. Amounts treated as ordinary income will not be eligible for the preferential tax rate applicable to qualified dividend income or long-term capital gains. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the ADSs will be increased by the amount of any income inclusion and decreased by the amount of any deductions under the mark-to-market rules. If a U.S. Holder makes a mark-to market election, it will be effective for the taxable year for which the election is made and all subsequent taxable years unless the ADSs are no longer regularly traded on a qualified exchange or the IRS consents to the revocation of the election.

 

Information Reporting Requirements

 

If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S Holder holds the ADSs, each such U.S. Holder generally will be required to file an annual information return on IRS Form 8621 containing such information as the U.S. Treasury Department may require. The failure to file IRS Form 8621 could result in the imposition of penalties and the extension of the statute of limitations with respect to U.S. federal income tax.

 

The U.S. federal income tax rules relating to PFICs are complex. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors with respect to the purchase, ownership and disposition of the ADSs, the availability of the mark-to-market election and whether making the election would be advisable in their particular circumstances, and the IRS information reporting obligations with respect to the purchase, ownership and disposition of the ADSs.

 

Taxation of Dividends and Other Distributions on the ADSs

 

Subject to the discussion above under the heading “—Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations,” generally, the gross amount of distributions made by us, if any, to a U.S. Holder with respect to the ADSs, before reduction for any non-U.S. taxes withheld therefrom, will be includable in gross income as a dividend to the extent that such distribution is paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). To the extent, if any, that the amount of any cash distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, it will be treated first as a tax-free return of such U.S. Holder’s tax basis in its ADSs, and to the extent the amount of the distribution exceeds such U.S. Holder’s tax basis, the excess will be taxed as capital gain. We do not intend to calculate our earnings and profits under U.S. federal income tax principles. Therefore, a U.S. Holder should expect that a distribution will generally

 

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be treated as a dividend even if that distribution would otherwise be treated as a non-taxable return of capital or as capital gain under the rules described above. A dividend in respect of the ADSs will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction allowed to corporations in respect of dividends received from other U.S. corporations. Non-corporate U.S. Holders may qualify for the lower rates of taxation with respect to dividends on ADSs applicable to long term capital gains (i.e., gains from the sale of capital assets held for more than one year), provided that certain conditions are met, including certain holding period requirements and the absence of certain risk reduction transactions. However, such reduced rate shall not apply if we are a PFIC for the taxable year in which we pay a dividend, or were a PFIC in the preceding taxable year. As indicated in the section titled “Dividends and Dividend Policy” herein, we intend to retain any earnings for use in our business and do not currently intend to pay dividends on our ordinary shares.

 

Subject to the paragraph below, dividends generally will constitute income from sources outside the United States, which may be relevant in calculating a U.S. Holder’s foreign tax credit limitation. Subject to certain conditions and limitations, non-U.S. tax withheld on dividends may be deducted from such U.S. Holder’s taxable income or credited against such U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability. The limitation on foreign taxes eligible for credit is calculated separately with respect to specific classes of income. For this purpose, dividends that we distribute generally should constitute “passive category income,” or, in the case of certain U.S. Holders, “general category income.” A foreign tax credit for foreign taxes imposed on distributions may be denied if a U.S. Holder does not satisfy certain minimum holding period requirements.

 

Notwithstanding the paragraph above, if 50% or more of the ADSs are treated as held by U.S. persons, we will be treated as a “U.S.-owned foreign corporation.” In that case, dividends may be treated for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes as income from sources outside the United States to the extent paid out of our non-U.S. source earnings and profits, and as income from sources within the United States to the extent paid out of our U.S. source earnings and profits. There can be no assurance that we will not be treated as a U.S.-owned foreign corporation. If the dividends are taxed at the lower tax rates generally applicable to long-term capital gains (as discussed above), the amount of the dividend taken into account for purposes of calculating the U.S. foreign tax credit limitation will generally be limited to the gross amount of the dividend, multiplied by the preferential rate divided by the highest rate of tax normally applicable to dividends. The rules relating to the determination of the foreign tax credit are complex, and U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors to determine whether and to what extent such U.S. Holder will be entitled to a foreign tax credit.

 

Taxation of Dispositions of ADSs

 

Subject to the discussion above under “—Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations,” a U.S. Holder will recognize taxable gain or loss on any sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of an ADS equal to the difference between the amount realized (the amount of cash (in U.S. dollars) plus the fair market value of any property received) for the ADS and such U.S. Holder’s tax basis (in U.S. dollars) in the ADS. The gain or loss will generally be capital gain or loss. Such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain taxable at a reduced rate for non-corporate U.S. Holders or long-term capital loss if, on the date of sale, exchange or other disposition, the ADSs were held by the U.S. Holder for more than one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. Any such gain or loss generally will be treated as U.S. source income or loss for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes.

 

Disposition of Foreign Currency

 

U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of receiving, converting or disposing of any non-U.S. currency received as dividends on our ADSs or on the sale or retirement of an ADS.

 

Tax on Net Investment Income

 

Additional 3.8% Medicare tax on some or all of such U.S. Holder’s “net investment income.” Net investment income generally includes income from the ADSs unless such income is derived in the ordinary

 

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course of the conduct of a trade or business (other than a trade or business that consists of certain passive or trading activities). You should consult your tax advisors regarding the effect this Medicare tax may have, if any, on your acquisition, ownership or disposition of the ADSs.

 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

 

Distributions with respect to ADSs and proceeds from the sale, exchange or disposition of ADSs may be subject to information reporting to the IRS, and possible U.S. backup withholding. Backup withholding will not apply, however, to a U.S. Holder who furnishes a correct taxpayer identification number and makes any other required certification or who is otherwise exempt from backup withholding. U.S. Holders who are required to establish their exempt status generally must provide such certification on U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-9. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the U.S. information reporting and backup withholding rules.

 

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld as backup withholding may be credited against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, and a U.S. Holder may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules by filing the appropriate claim for refund with the IRS and furnishing any required information.

 

Foreign Financial Asset Information Reporting

 

U.S. Holders who are either individuals or certain domestic entities may be required to submit certain information to the IRS with respect to such holder’s beneficial ownership of the ADSs, if such ADSs are not held on such holder’s behalf by a financial institution, as our ordinary shares are considered “specified foreign financial assets.” This law also imposes penalties and potential other adverse tax consequences if a U.S. Holder is required to submit such information to the IRS and fails to do so. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the potential information reporting obligations that may be imposed with respect to the ownership and disposition of the ADSs.

 

The above description is not intended to constitute a complete analysis of all tax consequences relating to acquisition, ownership and disposition of the ADSs. Prospective purchases are urged to consult their tax advisors concerning the tax consequences related their particular circumstances.

 

United Kingdom Tax Considerations

 

The following is a general summary of certain United Kingdom tax considerations relating to the ownership and disposal of the ADSs and does not address all possible tax consequences relating to an investment in the ADSs. It is based on current U.K. tax law and published HM Revenue & Customs, or HMRC, practice as of the date of this prospectus, both of which are subject to change, possibly with retrospective effect.

 

This United Kingdom taxation section is written on the basis that the company is and remains resident for tax purposes in the United Kingdom only and will therefore be subject to the U.K. tax regime and not the U.S. tax regime (save as discussed in the section titled “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” above). On this basis, dividends paid by the company will be regarded as U.K. dividends, not U.S. dividends.

 

Except as provided otherwise, this summary applies only to persons who are resident (and, in the case of individuals, domiciled) in the United Kingdom for tax purposes and who are not resident for tax purposes in any other jurisdiction, and do not have a permanent establishment or fixed base in any other jurisdiction with which the holding of the ADSs is connected. Such persons are referred to herein as U.K. Holders. Persons (a) who are not resident (or, if resident, are not domiciled) in the United Kingdom for tax purposes, including those individuals and companies who trade in the United Kingdom through a branch, agency or permanent establishment in the United Kingdom to which the ADSs are attributable, or (b) who are resident or otherwise subject to tax in a jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom, are recommended to seek the advice of professional advisers in relation to their taxation obligations.

 

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This summary is for general information only and is not intended to be, nor should it be considered to be, legal or tax advice to any particular investor. It does not address all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to specific investors in light of their particular circumstances or to investors subject to special treatment under U.K. tax law. In particular:

 

•

this summary only applies to the absolute beneficial owners of the ADSs (and where the ADSs are not held through an Individual Savings Account or a Self-Invested Personal Pension) and any dividends paid in respect of the related ordinary shares or ADSs where the dividends are regarded for U.K. tax purposes as that person’s own income (and not the income of some other person); and

 

•

this summary: (a) only addresses the principal U.K. tax consequences for investors who hold the ADSs as capital assets, (b) does not address the tax consequences that may be relevant to certain special classes of investor such as dealers, brokers or traders in shares or securities and other persons who hold the ADSs otherwise than as an investment, (c) does not address the tax consequences for holders that are financial institutions, insurance companies, collective investment schemes, pension schemes, charities or tax-exempt organizations, (d) assumes that the holder is not an officer or employee of the company (or of any related company) and has not (and is not deemed to have) acquired the ADSs or related ordinary shares by virtue of an office or employment, and (e) assumes that the holder does not control or hold (and is not deemed to control or hold), either alone or together with one or more associated or connected persons, directly or indirectly (including through the holding of the related ordinary shares or ADSs), an interest of 10% or more in the issued share capital (or in any class thereof or ADSs), voting power, rights to profits or capital of the company, and is not otherwise connected with the company.

 

This summary further assumes that a holder of ADSs is the beneficial owner of the underlying ordinary shares for U.K. tax purposes.

 

Potential investors in ADSs should satisfy themselves prior to investing as to the overall tax consequences, including, specifically, the consequences under U.K. tax law and HMRC practice of the acquisition, ownership and disposal of ADSs in their own particular circumstances by consulting their own tax advisers. In particular, non-U.K. resident or domiciled persons are advised to consider the potential impact of any relevant double taxation agreements.

 

Taxation of dividends

 

Withholding Tax. Dividend payments in respect of ADSs or ordinary shares may be made without withholding or deduction for or on account of U.K. tax.

 

United Kingdom Income Tax. An individual U.K. Holder (being an individual who is resident for tax purposes in the United Kingdom) who receives a dividend from the company will generally be subject to income tax on the dividend. An individual U.K. Holder will generally pay tax at a rate of zero per cent on the first £5,000 of dividends received by such U.K. Holder. (It was proposed in Finance (No.2) Bill 2017 that the £5,000 limit would be reduced to £2,000 from April 2018. However, this provision was removed when the Bill was truncated as a result of the announcement of the General Election held on June 8, 2017. The U.K. government has announced that legislation to reduce the limit to £2,000 will be reintroduced in the next Finance Bill).

 

An individual U.K. Holder who is subject to income tax at the basic rate will be liable to tax on the dividend at the rate of 7.5%. An individual U.K. Holder who is subject to income tax at the higher rate (but not the additional rate) will be liable to income tax on the dividend at the rate of 32.5% to the extent that such sum, when treated as the top slice of that holder’s income, exceeds the threshold for higher rate income tax.

 

An individual U.K. Holder liable to income tax at the additional rate will be subject to income tax on the dividend at the rate of 38.1%. to the extent that the holder’s income (including the dividend) exceeds the threshold for the additional rate.

 

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An individual who is not a U.K. Holder (other than one carrying on a trade, profession or vocation in the United Kingdom) who is resident for tax purposes outside the United Kingdom will not have any U.K. tax to pay on dividends received from the company.

 

United Kingdom Corporation Tax. A U.K. Holder within the charge to U.K. corporation tax may be entitled to exemption from U.K. corporation tax in respect of dividend payments. If the conditions for the exemption are not satisfied, or such United Kingdom Holder elects for an otherwise exempt dividend to be taxable, United Kingdom corporation tax will be chargeable on the amount of any dividends. The main rate of United Kingdom corporation tax for the 2017/2018 tax year is 19%. If potential investors are in any doubt as to their position, they should consult their own professional advisers.

 

A corporate holder of ADSs that is not a U.K. Holder will not be subject to U.K. corporation tax on dividends received from the company, unless it carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment to which the ordinary shares or the ADSs are attributable. In these circumstances, such holder may, depending on its individual circumstances and if the exemption from U.K. corporation tax discussed above does not apply, be chargeable to U.K. corporation tax on dividends received from the company.

 

Taxation of Disposals

 

U.K. Holders. A disposal or deemed disposal of ADSs by an individual U.K. Holder may, depending on his or her individual circumstances, give rise to a chargeable gain or to an allowable loss for the purpose of U.K. capital gains tax. The principal factors that will determine the capital gains tax position on a disposal of ADSs are the extent to which the holder realizes any other capital gains in the tax year in which the disposal is made, the extent to which the holder has incurred capital losses in that or any earlier tax year and the level of the annual allowance of tax-free gains in that tax year (the “annual exemption”). The annual exemption for the 2017/2018 tax year is £11,300. If, after all allowable deductions, an individual U.K. Holder who is subject to U.K. income tax at either the higher or the additional rate becomes liable to U.K. capital gains tax on the disposal of ordinary shares or ADSs, the current applicable rate would be 20%. For an individual U.K. Holder who is subject to U.K. income tax at the basic rate and, after all allowable deductions, liable to U.K. capital gains tax on such disposal, the current applicable rate would be 10%, save to the extent that any capital gains exceed the unused basic rate tax band. In that case, the current rate applicable to the excess would be 20%.

 

An individual U.K. Holder who ceases to be resident in the United Kingdom (or who fails to be regarded as resident in a territory outside the United Kingdom for the purposes of double taxation relief) for a period of less than five years and who disposes of his or her ADSs during that period of temporary non-residence may be liable to U.K. capital gains tax on a chargeable gain accruing on such disposal on his or her return to the United Kingdom (or upon ceasing to be regarded as resident outside the United Kingdom for the purposes of double taxation relief) (subject to available exemptions or reliefs).

 

A disposal of ADSs by a corporate U.K. Holder may give rise to a chargeable gain or an allowable loss for the purpose of U.K. corporation tax. Such a holder should be entitled to an indexation allowance, which applies to reduce capital gains to the extent that such gains arise due to inflation. The allowance may reduce a chargeable gain but will not create or increase an allowable loss.

 

Non-United Kingdom Holders. An individual holder who is not a U.K. Holder will not be liable to U.K. capital gains tax on capital gains realized on the disposal of his or her ADSs unless such holder carries on (whether solely or in partnership) a trade, profession or vocation in the United Kingdom through a branch or agency in the United Kingdom to which the ADSs are attributable. In these circumstances, such holder may, depending on his or her individual circumstances, be chargeable to U.K. capital gains tax on chargeable gains arising from a disposal of his or her ADSs.

 

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A corporate holder of ADSs that is not a U.K. Holder will not be liable for U.K. corporation tax on chargeable gains realized on the disposal of its ADSs unless it carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment to which the ADSs are attributable. In these circumstances, a disposal of ADSs by such holder may give rise to a chargeable gain or an allowable loss for the purposes of U.K. corporation tax.

 

Inheritance Tax

 

If, for the purposes of the Taxes on Estates of Deceased Persons and on Gifts Treaty 1978 between the United States and the United Kingdom (enacted in the United Kingdom as Statutory Instrument No 1454 of 1979), an individual holder is domiciled in the United States and is not a national of the United Kingdom, any ADSs beneficially owned by that holder will not generally be subject to U.K. inheritance tax on that holder’s death or on a gift made by that holder during his or her lifetime, provided that any applicable U.S. federal gift or estate tax liability is paid, except where (i) the ADSs are part of the business property of a U.K. permanent establishment or pertain to a U.K. fixed base used for the performance of independent personal services; or (ii) the ADSs are comprised in a settlement unless, at the time the settlement was made, the settlor was domiciled in the United States and not a national of the United Kingdom.

 

Stamp Duty and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax

 

The statements below in relation to U.K. stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax, or SDRT, apply irrespective of whether the relevant holder of ADSs is resident or domiciled in the United Kingdom.

 

Issue and Transfer of Ordinary Shares

 

Issue (including to a depositary or clearance service). No U.K. stamp duty is payable on the issue of the ordinary shares.

 

Based on current published HMRC practice and recent case law, there should be no SDRT payable on the issue of ordinary shares to a depositary receipt system or a clearance service. We understand that HMRC recognizes DTC as a clearance service for United Kingdom stamp duty and SDRT purposes.

 

Transfer to a depositary or clearance service. Transfers of ordinary shares to, or to a nominee or agent for, a person whose business is or includes issuing depositary receipts or the provision of clearance services, will generally be regarded by HMRC as subject to stamp duty or SDRT at a rate of 1.5% of the amount or value of the consideration or, in certain circumstances, the value of the ordinary shares transferred unless such transfer can be regarded as an integral part of an issue of share capital. We anticipate that this liability for stamp duty or SDRT would be borne by the person depositing the relevant shares in the depositary receipt system or clearance service. Transfers of ordinary shares between depositary receipt systems and clearance services will generally be exempt from stamp duty and SDRT unless, in the case of a clearance service, it has made an election under section 97A(1) Finance Act 1986. Our understanding is that DTC has not made such an election.

 

Transfer on sale. The transfer on sale of ordinary shares by a written instrument of transfer will generally be liable to U.K. stamp duty at the rate of 0.5% of the amount or value of the consideration for the transfer. The purchaser normally pays the stamp duty.

 

The transfer of ordinary shares within a depositary receipt system or clearance service should not be subject to stamp duty or SDRT, except where a clearance service has made an election under section 97A(1) Finance Act 1986. Our understanding is that DTC has not made such an election.

 

An agreement to transfer ordinary shares outside a depositary receipt system or a clearance service will generally give rise to a liability on the purchaser to SDRT at the rate of 0.5% of the amount or value of the

 

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consideration. Such SDRT is payable on the seventh day of the month following the month in which the charge arises, but where an instrument of transfer is executed and duly stamped before the expiry of a period of six years beginning with the date of that agreement, (i) any SDRT that has not been paid ceases to be payable, and (ii) any SDRT that has been paid may be recovered from HMRC, generally with interest.

 

Transfer of ADSs

 

No U.K. stamp duty will be payable on a written instrument transferring an ADS or on a written agreement to transfer an ADS provided that the instrument of transfer or the agreement to transfer is executed and remains at all times outside the United Kingdom. Where these conditions are not met, the written instrument for the transfer of, or written agreement to transfer, an ADS could, depending on the circumstances, attract a charge to U.K. stamp duty at the rate of 0.5% of the value of the consideration given in connection with the transfer.

 

No SDRT will be payable in respect of an agreement to transfer an ADS.

 

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UNDERWRITING

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Jefferies LLC and Cowen and Company, LLC are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering and as representatives of the underwriters named below. Subject to the terms and conditions stated in the underwriting agreement, dated the date of this prospectus, each underwriter named below has severally agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to that underwriter, the number of ADSs set forth opposite the underwriter’s name.

 

Underwriter		Number of ADSs
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Jefferies LLC
Cowen and Company, LLC
William Blair & Company, L.L.C.
Total

 

The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the ADSs included in this offering are subject to approval of legal matters by counsel and to other conditions. The underwriters are obligated to purchase all the ADSs (other than those covered by the over-allotment option described below) if they purchase any of the ADSs.

 

ADSs sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus. Any ADSs sold by the underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount from the initial public offering price not to exceed $        per ADS. If all the ADSs are not sold at the initial offering price, the underwriters may change the offering price and the other selling terms. The representatives have advised us that the underwriters do not intend to make sales to discretionary accounts.

 

If the underwriters sell more ADSs than the total number set forth in the table above, we have granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable for 30 days from the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to              additional ADSs at the initial public offering price less the underwriting discount. The underwriters may exercise the option solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, if any, in connection with the offering. To the extent the option is exercised, each underwriter must purchase a number of additional ADSs approximately proportionate to that underwriter’s initial purchase commitment set forth in the table above. Any ADSs issued or sold under the option will be issued and sold on the same terms and conditions as the other ADSs that are the subject of this offering.

 

We, our officers and directors and substantially all of our other securityholders have agreed that, subject to specified limited exceptions, for a period of 180 days from the date of this prospectus, we and they will not, without the prior written consent of Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Jefferies LLC and Cowen and Company, LLC, offer, sell, contract, sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, including the filing of a registration statement in respect of, or hedge any of our ordinary shares, ADSs, or any securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for our ordinary shares. Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Jefferies LLC and Cowen and Company, LLC in their sole discretion may release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements at any time, which, in the case of officers and directors, shall be with notice.

 

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our ADSs. Consequently, the initial public offering price for our ADSs will be determined by negotiations between us and the representatives. Among the factors considered in determining the initial public offering price will be our results of operations, our current financial condition, our future prospects, our markets, the economic conditions in and future prospects for the industry in which we compete, our management, and currently prevailing general conditions in the equity securities markets, including current market valuations of publicly traded companies considered comparable to

 

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our company. We cannot assure you, however, that the price at which our ADSs will sell in the public market after this offering will not be lower than the initial public offering price or that an active trading market in our ADSs will develop and continue after this offering.

 

We have applied to have our ADSs listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “NCNA.”

 

The following table shows the offering price, underwriting discounts and commissions that we are to pay to the underwriters and proceeds to us, before expenses, in connection with this offering. These amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.

 

Total

Per ADS

No exercise

Full exercise

Public offering price

$

$

$

Underwriting discounts and commissions paid by us

$

$

$

Proceeds to us, before expenses

$

$

$

 

We estimate that expenses payable by us in connection with this offering, exclusive of underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $        . We have also agreed to reimburse the underwriters for expenses in an amount up to $                     relating to the clearance of this offering with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

 

In connection with this offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell ADSs in the open market. Purchases and sales of ADSs in the open market may include short sales, purchases to cover short positions, which may include purchases pursuant to the underwriters’ over-allotment option, and other transactions that would stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of our ADSs.

 

•

Short sales involve secondary market sales by the underwriters of a greater number of ADSs than they are required to purchase in the offering.

 

•

“Covered” short sales are sales of ADSs in an amount up to the number of ADSs represented by the underwriters’ over-allotment option.

 

•

“Naked” short sales are sales of ADSs in an amount in excess of the number of ADSs represented by the underwriters’ over-allotment option.

 

•

Covering transactions involve purchases of ADSs either pursuant to the underwriters’ over-allotment option or in the open market in order to cover short positions.

 

•

To close a naked short position, the underwriters must purchase ADSs in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the ADSs in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in this offering.

 

•

To close a covered short position, the underwriters must purchase ADSs in the open market or exercise their over-allotment option. In determining the source of ADSs to close the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of ADSs available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase ADSs through the over-allotment option.

 

•

As an additional means of facilitating this offering, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, shares of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market, as long as such bids do not exceed a specified maximum, to stabilize the price of the shares of our common stock.

 

Purchases to cover short positions and stabilizing purchases, as well as other purchases by the underwriters for their own accounts, may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our ADSs. They may also cause the price of the ADSs to be higher than the price that would otherwise exist in the open

 

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market in the absence of these transactions. The underwriters may conduct these transactions on the NASDAQ Global Market, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. The underwriters are not required to engage in any of these transactions and, may discontinue them at any time.

 

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make because of any of those liabilities.

 

A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on websites maintained by one or more of the underwriters or their respective affiliates. The representatives may agree with us to allocate a number of ADSs to underwriters for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Any such allocation for online distributions will be made by the underwriters on the same basis as other allocations. Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on the underwriters’ or their respective affiliates’ websites and any information contained in any other website maintained by any of the underwriters or their respective affiliates is not part of this prospectus, has not been approved or endorsed by us or the underwriters and should not be relied upon by investors in this offering.

 

Conflicts of Interest

 

The underwriters are full-service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may, from time to time, engage in transactions with and perform services for us in the ordinary course of their business for which they may receive customary fees and reimbursement of expenses. In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (which may include bank loans and/or credit default swaps) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers and may at any time hold long and short positions in such securities and instruments. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities or instruments of ours or our affiliates. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long or short positions in such securities and instruments.

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area

 

In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area that has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a relevant member state), with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that relevant member state (the relevant implementation date), an offer of ADSs described in this prospectus may not be made to the public in that relevant member state other than:

 

•

to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;

 

•

to fewer than 100 or, if the relevant member state has implemented the relevant provision of the 2010 PD Amending Directive, 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), as permitted under the Prospectus Directive, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the relevant Dealer or Dealers nominated by us for any such offer; or

 

•

in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive;

 

provided that no such offer of securities shall require us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

 

For purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of securities to the public” in any relevant member state means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer

 

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and the securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the securities, as the expression may be varied in that member state by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that member state, and the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the relevant member state) and includes any relevant implementing measure in the relevant member state. The expression 2010 PD Amending Directive means Directive 2010/73/EU.

 

The sellers of the ADSs have not authorized and do not authorize the making of any offer of ADSs through any financial intermediary on their behalf, other than offers made by the underwriters with a view to the final placement of the ADSs as contemplated in this prospectus. Accordingly, no purchaser of the ADSs, other than the underwriters, is authorized to make any further offer of the ADSs on behalf of the sellers or the underwriters.

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

 

This prospectus is only being distributed to, and is only directed at, persons in the United Kingdom that are qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive that are also (i) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the Order) or (ii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (each such person being referred to as a “relevant person”). This prospectus and its contents are confidential and should not be distributed, published or reproduced (in whole or in part) or disclosed by recipients to any other persons in the United Kingdom. Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in Australia

 

No prospectus or other disclosure document, as defined in the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) of Australia, or Corporations Act, in relation to our ADSs has been or will be lodged with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission, or ASIC. This document has not been lodged with ASIC and is only directed to certain categories of exempt persons. Accordingly, if you receive this document in Australia:

 

(a)

you confirm and warrant that you are either:

 

(i) a “sophisticated investor” under section 708(8)(a) or (b) of the Corporations Act;

 

(ii) a “sophisticated investor” under section 708(8)(c) or (d) of the Corporations Act and that you have provided an accountant’s certificate to us which complies with the requirements of section 708(8)(c)(i) or (ii) of the Corporations Act and related regulations before the offer has been made;

 

(iii) a person associated with the company under section 708(12) of the Corporations Act; or

 

(iv) a “professional investor” within the meaning of section 708(11)(a) or (b) of the Corporations Act, and to the extent that you are unable to confirm or warrant that you are an exempt sophisticated investor, associated person or professional investor under the Corporations Act, any offer made to you under this document is void and incapable of acceptance; and

 

(b)

you warrant and agree that you will not offer any of our ADSs for resale in Australia within 12 months of that ADSs being issued unless any such resale offer is exempt from the requirement to issue a disclosure document under section 708 of the Corporations Act.

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in Canada

 

The ADSs may be sold in Canada only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103

 

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Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the ADSs must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

 

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

 

Pursuant to section 3A.3 (or, in the case of securities issued or guaranteed by the government of a non-Canadian jurisdiction, section 3A.4) of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (“NI 33-105”), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in Chile

 

The ADSs are not registered in the Securities Registry (Registro de Valores) or subject to the control of the Chilean Securities and Exchange Commission (Superintendencia de Valores y Seguros de Chile). This prospectus and other offering materials relating to the offer of the ADSs do not constitute a public offer of, or an invitation to subscribe for or purchase, the ADSs in the Republic of Chile, other than to individually identified purchasers pursuant to a private offering within the meaning of Article 4 of the Chilean Securities Market Act (Ley de Mercado de Valores) (an offer that is not “addressed to the public at large or to a certain sector or specific group of the public”).

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in France

 

Neither this prospectus nor any other offering material relating to the ADSs described in this prospectus has been submitted to the clearance procedures of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers or of the competent authority of another member state of the European Economic Area and notified to the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. The ADSs have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in France. Neither this prospectus nor any other offering material relating to the ADSs has been or will be:

 

•

released, issued, distributed or caused to be released, issued or distributed to the public in France; or

 

•

used in connection with any offer for subscription or sale of the ADSs to the public in France.

 

Such offers, sales and distributions will be made in France only:

 

•

to qualified investors (investisseurs qualifiés) and/or to a restricted circle of investors (cercle restreint d’investisseurs), in each case investing for their own account, all as defined in, and in accordance with articles L.411-2, D.411-1, D.411-2, D.734-1, D.744-1, D.754-1 and D.764-1 of the French Code monétaire et financier;

 

•

to investment services providers authorized to engage in portfolio management on behalf of third parties; or

 

•

in a transaction that, in accordance with article L.411-2-II-1° -or-2° -or 3° of the French Code monétaire et financier and article 211-2 of the General Regulations (Règlement Général) of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers, does not constitute a public offer (appel public à l’épargne).

 

•

The ADSs may be resold directly or indirectly, only in compliance with articles L.411-1, L.411-2, L.412-1 and L.621-8 through L.621-8-3 of the French Code monétaire et financier.

 

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Notice to Prospective Investors in Hong Kong

 

The ADSs may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong), or (ii) to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong) and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the ADSs may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to the ADSs which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in Japan

 

The ADSs offered in this prospectus have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan. The ADSs have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the account of any resident of Japan (including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), except (i) pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and (ii) in compliance with any other applicable requirements of Japanese law.

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in Singapore

 

This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the ADSs may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the ADSs be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”), (ii) to a relevant person pursuant to Section 275(1), or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA, in each case subject to compliance with conditions set forth in the SFA.

 

Where the ADSs are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant party which is:

 

•

a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or

 

•

a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor,

 

•

securities of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the securities pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:

 

•

to an institutional investor (for corporations, under Section 274 of the SFA) or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person pursuant to an offer that is made on terms that such securities of that corporation or such rights and interest in that trust are acquired at a consideration of not less than $200,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) for each transaction, whether such amount is to be paid for in cash or by exchange of securities or other assets, and further for corporations, in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA;

 

•

where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer; or

 

•

where the transfer is by operation of law.

 

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EXPENSES OF THE OFFERING

 

We estimate that the expenses payable by us in connection with this offering, other than the underwriting discounts and commissions, will be as follows:

 

		Amount
SEC registration fee		$	13,329
FINRA filing fee			17,750
Nasdaq listing fee			*
Printing and engraving expenses			*
Legal fees and expenses			*
Accounting fees and expenses			*
Road show expenses			*
Depositary expenses			*
Miscellaneous costs			*
Total		$	*

 

*

To be completed by amendment.

 

All amounts in the table are estimates except the SEC registration fee, the Nasdaq listing fee and the FINRA filing fee.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

 

We are being represented by Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. with respect to certain legal matters of U.S. federal securities and New York State law. The validity of our ordinary shares underlying the ADSs and certain matters governed by English law will be passed on for us by Bristows LLP. Legal counsel for the underwriters is Cooley LLP.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2016, and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2016, appearing in this prospectus and the registration statement, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon appearing elsewhere, and are included in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

The registered business address of Ernst & Young LLP is 10 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2DZ, United Kingdom.

 

SERVICE OF PROCESS AND ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS

 

We are a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales. Certain of our directors and executive officers and experts named in this prospectus reside outside of the United States, and all or a substantial portion of our assets and the assets of such persons are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for an investor to serve process on us or our directors and executive officers or to compel any of them to appear in Court in the United States or to enforce judgments obtained in U.S. courts against them or us, including judgments based on civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States. In addition, awards of punitive damages in actions brought in the United States or elsewhere may be unenforceable in the United Kingdom. An award for monetary damages under the U.S. securities laws would be considered punitive in the United Kingdom if it does not seek to compensate the claimant for loss or damage suffered and is intended to punish the defendant. The enforceability of any judgment in the United Kingdom will depend on the particular facts of the case as well as the laws and treaties in effect at the time. The United States and the United Kingdom do not currently have a treaty providing for the mutual recognition and enforcement of judgments (other than arbitration awards) in civil and commercial matters.

 

We have appointed Corporation Service Company as our authorized agent upon whom process may be served in any action instituted in any U.S. federal or state court having subject matter jurisdiction in the Borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, arising out of or based upon the ADSs, the deposit agreement or the underwriting agreement related to the ADSs.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-1, including amendments and relevant exhibits and schedules, under the Securities Act. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, summarizes material provisions of contracts and other documents that we refer to in the prospectus. Since this prospectus does not contain all of the information contained in the registration statement, you should read the registration statement and its exhibits and schedules for further information with respect to us and the ADSs. You may review and copy the registration statement, reports and other information we file at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may also request copies of these documents upon payment of a duplicating fee by writing to the SEC. For further information on the public reference facility, please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Our SEC filings, including the registration statement, are also available to you on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

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INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements of NuCana BioMed Limited
Unaudited Consolidated Interim Statements of Operations for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016			F-2
Unaudited Consolidated Interim Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016			F-3
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position			F-4
Unaudited Consolidated Interim Statements of Changes in Equity for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016			F-5
Unaudited Consolidated Interim Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016			F-6
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements			F-7
Consolidated Financial Statements of NuCana BioMed Limited
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm			F-12
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015			F-13
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015			F-14
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as of December 31, 2016 and 2015			F-15
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015			F-16
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015			F-17
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements			F-18

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,

 

		Notes				2017				2016
						(in thousands except per share data)
						£				£
Research and development expenses							(3,689	)			(3,784	)
Administrative expenses							(637	)			(908	)
Initial public offering related expenses			3				(1,066	)			—
Net foreign exchange (losses) gains							(161	)			318
Operating loss							(5,553	)			(4,374	)
Finance income							91				167
Loss before tax							(5,462	)			(4,207	)
Income tax credit			4				1,077				1,090
Loss for the period							(4,385	)			(3,117	)
Basic and diluted loss per share			5				(0.05	)			(0.03	)

 

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,

 

		2017				2016
		(in thousands)
		£				£
Loss for the period			(4,385	)			(3,117	)
Other comprehensive expense:
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:
Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations			(1	)			4
Other comprehensive (expense) income for the period			(1	)			4
Total comprehensive loss for the period			(4,386	)			(3,113	)
Attributable to:
Equity holders of the Company			(4,386	)			(3,113	)

 

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

AS AT

 

		Notes				June 30, 2017				December 31, 2016
						(unaudited)
						(in thousands)
						£				£
Assets
Non-current assets
Intangible assets			6				1,791				1,377
Property, plant and equipment							17				18
							1,808				1,395
Current assets
Prepayments, accrued income and other receivables							2,882				3,634
Current income tax receivable							3,035				2,195
Cash and cash equivalents			7				15,918				19,990
							21,835				25,819
Total assets							23,643				27,214
Equity and liabilities
Capital and reserves
Share capital and share premium			10				967				43,433
Other reserves							4,595				4,064
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)							15,825				(22,256	)
Total equity attributable to equity holders							21,387				25,241
Current liabilities
Trade payables							570				728
Payroll taxes and social security							66				61
Accrued expenditure							1,620				1,184
							2,256				1,973
Total liabilities							2,256				1,973
Total equity and liabilities							23,643				27,214

 

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,

 

		Share capital				Share premium				Own Share reserve				Share option reserve				Foreign currency translation reserve				Retained earnings/ (accumulated deficit)				Total equity attributable to equity holders
		(in thousands)
		£				£				£				£				£				£				£
Balance at December 31, 2015			659				42,574				(339	)			3,291				(1	)			(16,224	)			29,960
Loss for the period			—				—				—				—				—				(3,117	)			(3,117	)
Other comprehensive income for the period			—				—				—				—				4				—				4
Total comprehensive income (loss) for the period			—				—				—				—				4				(3,117	)			(3,113	)
Share-based payments			—				—				—				139				—				—				139
Balance at June 30, 2016			659				42,574				(339	)			3,430				3				(19,341	)			26,986
Balance at December 31, 2016			663				42,770				(339	)			4,406				(3	)			(22,256	)			25,241
Loss for the period			—				—				—				—				—				(4,385	)			(4,385	)
Other comprehensive loss for the period			—				—				—				—				(1	)			—				(1	)
Total comprehensive loss for the period			—				—				—				—				(1	)			(4,385	)			(4,386	)
Share-based payments			—				—				—				532				—				—				532
Reduction in share premium			—				(42,466	)			—				—				—				42,466				—
Balance at June 30, 2017			663				304				(339	)			4,938				(4	)			15,825				21,387

 

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,

 

		2017				2016
		(in thousands)
		£				£
Cash flows from operating activities
Loss for the period			(4,385	)			(3,117	)
Adjustments for:
Income tax credit			(1,077	)			(1,090	)
Amortization and depreciation			84				28
Finance income			(91	)			(167	)
Share-based payments			532				139
			(4,937	)			(4,207	)
Movements in working capital:
Decrease (increase) in other receivables			746				(179	)
(Decrease) increase in trade payables			(155	)			170
Increase (decrease) in payroll taxes, social security and accrued expenditure			441				(164	)
Movements in working capital			1,032				(173	)
Cash used in operations			(3,905	)			(4,380	)
Corporation tax			235				—
Net cash used in operating activities			(3,670	)			(4,380	)
Cash flows from investing activities
Interest received			98				235
Payments for office and computer equipment			(5	)			(15	)
Payments for intangible assets			(492	)			(85	)
Proceeds from short-term deposits			—				5,075
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities			(399	)			5,210
Net (decrease) increase in cash			(4,069	)			830
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			19,990				14,112
Foreign currency translation differences			(3	)			9
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period			15,918				14,951

 

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1. General information

 

NuCana BioMed Limited (“NuCana” or the “Company”) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a portfolio of new medicines to treat cancer. We are harnessing the power of phosphoramidate chemistry to generate new medicines called ProTides. These compounds have the potential to improve cancer treatment by enhancing the efficacy and safety of several current standards of care.

 

The Company is registered in England and Wales and domiciled in the United Kingdom.

 

The Company has two wholly owned subsidiaries, NuCana, Inc. and NuCana BioMed Trustee Company Limited.

 

2. Significant accounting policies

 

Basis of preparation

 

The interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2017 have been prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 “Interim Financial Reporting” (“IAS 34”). The accounting policies and methods of computation applied in the preparation of the interim financial statements are consistent with those applied in the Company’s annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

The Company’s financial statements comprise the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries at June 30, 2017. The financial statements are presented in pounds sterling, which is also the Company’s functional currency. All values are rounded to the nearest thousand, except where otherwise indicated.

 

The interim consolidated financial statements do not include all the information and disclosures required in the annual financial statements, and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s annual financial statements as at December 31, 2016.

 

Going concern

 

In common with many companies in the biopharmaceutical sector, the Company incurs significant expenditure in its early years as it researches and develops its potential products for market.

 

The board of directors, having reviewed the operating budgets and development plans, consider that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operation for the foreseeable future. The board of directors is therefore satisfied that it is appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements. The Company believes that its cash and cash equivalents of £15.9 million at June 30, 2017, will be sufficient to fund its current operating plan for at least the next 12 months. As the Company continues to incur losses, the transition to profitability is dependent upon the successful development, approval and commercialization of its product candidates and achieving a level of revenues adequate to support its cost structure. The Company may never achieve profitability, and unless and until it does, it will continue to need to raise additional capital.

 

The Company intends to fund future operations through additional equity offerings and may seek additional capital through arrangements from other sources. There can be no assurances, however, that additional funding will be available on acceptable terms.

 

Initial public offering (“IPO”) related expenses

 

Incremental costs incurred and directly attributable to the expected offering of securities are deferred and deducted from the related proceeds of the offering. The net amount will be recorded as contributed shareholders’

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

2. Significant accounting policies (continued)

 

equity in the period when such shares are issued. Other costs incurred in the offering will be expensed as incurred and included in IPO related costs.

 

Segment reporting

 

The Company operates in one operating segment. The Company’s chief operating decision maker (the “CODM”), its Chief Executive Officer, manages the Company’s operations on an integrated basis for the purposes of allocating resources. The Company’s principal operations and decision-making functions are located in the United Kingdom. The CODM makes decisions on a global basis from there. Accordingly, the Company has determined that it operates in a single reporting segment.

 

3. IPO related expenses

 

		For Six Months ended  June 30,
		2017				2016
		(in thousands)
		£				£
IPO related expenses			1,066				—

 

IPO related expenses primarily relates to legal, accounting and other advisors’ fees in relation to the Company’s anticipated listing on the Nasdaq Global Market.

 

4. Income tax credit

 

The Company’s consolidated effective tax rate for the full financial year 2017 is estimated at 19.7% (December 31, 2016: 25.9%). Therefore, the consolidated effective tax rate used for the six months ended June 30, 2017 was 19.7% (June 30, 2016: 25.9%). The income tax credit for the six months ended June 30, 2017 is £1.1 million (June 30, 2016: £1.1 million).

 

There is no deferred tax charge for the six months ended June 30, 2017 (June 30, 2016: £nil).

 

5. Basic and diluted loss per share

 

		For Six Months ended June 30,
		2017				2016
		(in thousands)
		£				£
Loss for the period			(4,385	)			(3,117	)
Basic and diluted weighted average number of shares			96,739				96,406
Basic and diluted loss per share			(0.05	)			(0.03	)

 

Basic loss per share is calculated by dividing the loss for the period attributable to the equity holders of the Company by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period.

 

The dilutive effect of potential shares through equity settled transactions were considered to be anti-dilutive as they would have decreased the loss per share and were therefore excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share.

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

6. Intangible assets

 

Intangible assets comprise patents with a carrying value of £1.7 million as of June 30, 2017 (as of December 31, 2016: £1.4 million) and computer software with a carrying value of £0.1 million as of June 30, 2017 (as of December 31, 2016: £7,000).

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company acquired intangible assets with a cost of £0.5 million. The additions comprised £0.4 million in relation to patents and £0.1 million in relation to computer software (year ended December 31, 2016: £0.5 million on patents, £10,602 on computer software).

 

There were no disposals of assets in the six months ended June 30, 2017 (year ended December 31, 2016: £nil).

 

7. Cash and cash equivalents

 

		June 30, 2017				December 31, 2016
		(unaudited)
		(in thousands)
		£				£
Cash and cash equivalents			15,918				19,990

 

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank with maturity of three months or less, which are subject to insignificant risk of changes in value. Cash at bank earns interest at fixed or variable rates based on the terms agreed for each account.

 

Cash and cash equivalents are measured at fair value and classified as Level 1 under the fair value level hierarchy.

 

8. Share-based payments

 

The Company has three share-based payment plans for employees, directors and consultants. The share options granted will be settled in equity.

 

On May 16, 2017, 93,000 share options were granted to a director under the U.K. share based payment agreement, which will vest equally over a period of four years if the option holder remains a director of the Company. Upon vesting, each option allows the holder to purchase one ordinary share at a specified option price determined at grant date.

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

8. Share-based payments (continued)

 

The following principal assumptions were used in the valuation for share options:

 

		Options granted on May 16, 2017
Vesting dates			Oct 28, 2017
			Oct 28, 2018
			Oct 28, 2019
			Oct 28, 2020
Volatility			66.56	%
Dividend yield			0	%
Risk-free investment rate			0.12	%
Fair value of option at grant date		£	1.92
Fair value of share at grant date		£	2.77
Exercise price at date of grant		£	1.00
Lapse date			May 16, 2027
Expected option life (years)			2.63
Number of options granted			93,000

 

The fair values of options granted were determined using the Black-Scholes model that takes into account factors specific to the share incentive plan such as the assumption that the options will be exercised at a single point in time, in December 2019. This has been incorporated into the measurement by means of actuarial modelling. As NuCana BioMed Limited was unlisted on the grant date of the options, it was not possible to derive historical volatility from the Company’s own share price. The underlying expected volatility was therefore determined by using the historical volatility of similar listed entities as a proxy. The volatility percentage applied to each tranche is the average of the historical volatility of comparable companies to NuCana BioMed Limited.

 

The weighted average remaining contractual life of the share options outstanding as at June 30, 2017 is 5.71 years (June 30, 2016: 6.49).

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company has recognized £0.5 million of share-based payment expense in the statement of operations (June 30, 2016: £0.1 million).

 

9. Related party disclosures

 

Compensation of key management personnel of the Company

 

		For Six Months ended June 30,
		2017				2016
		(in thousands)
		£				£
Short-term employee benefits			446				612
Severance payments			—				150
Pension and other benefits			29				26
Share-based payments			355				123
			830				911

 

The amounts disclosed in the table above are the amounts recognized as an expense during the reporting period related to key management personnel.

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

10. Share capital and share premium

 

		June 30, 2017				December 31, 2016
		(unaudited)
		(in thousands)
		£				£
Share capital			663				663
Share premium			304				42,770
			967				43,433
Issued share capital comprises:		June 30, 2017				December 31, 2016
		(unaudited)
		Number (in thousands)
Ordinary shares of £0.01 each			24,955				24,955
Founder Ordinary 1 shares of £0.01 each			4,000				4,000
Founder Ordinary 2 shares of £0.01 each			4,000				4,000
Series A shares of £0.01 each			29,933				29,933
Series B shares of £0.001 each			33,850				33,850
			96,739				96,739

 

The table above does not total due to rounding.

 

On June 29, 2017, the directors of the Company signed a solvency statement with the agreement of the shareholders and undertook a capital reduction reducing its share premium by £42.5 million, from £42.8 million to £0.3 million with the amount by which the share premium was reduced credited to the Company’s retained earnings (accumulated deficit).

 

		No. of shares				Share capital				Share premium
		(in thousands)
						£				£
Fully paid shares
Balance at December 31, 2016			96,739				663				42,770
Reduction in share premium account			—				—				(42,466	)
Balance at June 30, 2017			96,739				663				304

 

11. Events after the reporting period

 

On August 11, 2017 and August 31, 2017, the Company entered into new lease obligations for office space. The lease obligations are for a period of five years with a break clause after three years.

 

On August 29, 2017, the Company re-registered as a public limited company and changed its name to NuCana plc.

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

The Board of Directors of NuCana BioMed Limited:

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position of NuCana BioMed Limited (the “Company”) and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss, changes in equity and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2016. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of NuCana BioMed Limited and subsidiaries at December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2016, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

June 26, 2017

 

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Table of Contents

NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,

 

		Notes				2016				2015
						(in thousands, except per-share data)
						£				£
Research and development expenses							(7,904	)			(5,655	)
Administrative expenses							(1,143	)			(1,251	)
Net foreign exchange gains (losses)							599				(8	)
Operating loss							(8,448	)			(6,914	)
Finance income							283				406
Loss before tax							(8,165	)			(6,508	)
Income tax credit			6				2,116				1,176
Loss for the year							(6,049	)			(5,332	)
Basic and diluted loss per share			4				(0.06	)			(0.06	)

 

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,

 

		Notes				2016				2015
						(in thousands)
						£				£
Loss for the year							(6,049	)			(5,332	)
Other comprehensive expense:
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:
Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations							(2	)			(1	)
Other comprehensive expense for the year							(2	)			(1	)
Total comprehensive loss for the year							(6,051	)			(5,333	)
Attributable to:
Equity holders of the Company							(6,051	)			(5,333	)

 

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

AT DECEMBER 31,

 

		Notes				December 31, 2016				December 31, 2015
						(in thousands)
						£				£
ASSETS
Non-current assets
Intangible assets			7				1,377				927
Property, plant and equipment			8				18				14
							1,395				941
Current assets
Prepayments, accrued income and other receivables			9				3,634				375
Current income tax receivable			6				2,195				1,182
Short-term deposits			14				—				15,075
Cash and cash equivalents			14				19,990				14,112
							25,819				30,744
Total assets							27,214				31,685
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
Capital and reserves
Share capital and share premium			10				43,433				43,233
Other reserves			11				4,064				2,951
Accumulated deficit							(22,256	)			(16,224	)
Total equity attributable to equity holders							25,241				29,960
Current liabilities
Trade payables							728				507
Payroll taxes and social security							61				52
Accrued expenditure							1,184				1,160
Current income tax payable			6				—				6
							1,973				1,725
Total liabilities							1,973				1,725
Total equity and liabilities							27,214				31,685

 

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,

 

		Share capital				Share premium				Own share reserve				Share option reserve				Foreign currency translation reserve				Accumulated deficit				Total equity attributable to equity holders
		(in thousands)
		£				£				£				£				£				£				£
Balance at January 1, 2015			659				42,574				(339	)			2,506				—				(10,892	)			34,508
Loss for the year			—				—				—				—				—				(5,332	)			(5,332	)
Other comprehensive expense for the year			—				—				—				—				(1	)			—				(1	)
Total comprehensive loss for the year			—				—				—				—				(1	)			(5,332	)			(5,333	)
Share-based payments			—				—				—				785				—				—				785
Balance at December 31, 2015			659				42,574				(339	)			3,291				(1	)			(16,224	)			29,960
Loss for the year			—				—				—				—				—				(6,049	)			(6,049	)
Other comprehensive expense for the year			—				—				—				—				(2	)			—				(2	)
Total comprehensive loss for the year			—				—				—				—				(2	)			(6,049	)			(6,051	)
Share-based payments			—				—				—				1,132				—				—				1,132
Exercise of share options			—				—				—				(17	)			—				17				—
Issue of share capital			4				196				—				—				—				—				200
Balance at December 31, 2016			663				42,770				(339	)			4,406				(3	)			(22,256	)			25,241

 

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,

 

		2016				2015
		(in thousands)
		£				£
Cash flows from operating activities
Loss for the year			(6,049	)			(5,332	)
Adjustments for:
Income tax credit			(2,116	)			(1,176	)
Amortization and depreciation			101				44
Finance income			(283	)			(406	)
Share-based payments			1,132				785
			(7,215	)			(6,085	)
Movements in working capital:
(Increase) decrease in other receivables			(3,404	)			36
Increase in trade payables			220				133
Increase in payroll taxes, social security and accrued expenditure			33				418
Movements in working capital			(3,151	)			587
Cash used in operations			(10,366	)			(5,498	)
Corporation tax			1,102				1,031
Net cash used in operating activities			(9,264	)			(4,467	)
Cash flows from investing activities
Interest received			410				290
Payments for office and computer equipment			(15	)			(6	)
Payments for intangible assets			(539	)			(390	)
Proceeds from (investment in) short-term deposits			15,075				(75	)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			14,931				(181	)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issue of share capital			200				—
Net cash from financing activities			200				—
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			5,867				(4,648	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year			14,112				18,761
Foreign currency translation differences			11				(1	)
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year			19,990				14,112

 

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1. General information

 

NuCana BioMed Limited (“NuCana” or the “Company”) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a portfolio of new medicines to treat cancer. We are harnessing the power of phosphoramidate chemistry to generate new medicines called ProTides. These compounds have the potential to improve cancer treatment by enhancing the efficacy and safety of several current standards of care.

 

The Company is incorporated in England and Wales and domiciled in the United Kingdom.

 

The Company has two wholly owned subsidiaries, NuCana, Inc. and NuCana BioMed Trustee Company Limited. The financial statements for the Company were authorized for issue by the board of directors on June 26, 2017.

 

Re-registration

 

Prior to completion of the initial public offering (“IPO”), the Company intends to re-register as a public limited company and change its name to NuCana plc.

 

2. Significant accounting policies

 

Basis of preparation

 

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”).

 

The Company’s financial statements comprise the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2016. The financial statements are presented in pounds sterling, which is also the Company’s functional currency. All values are rounded to the nearest thousand, except where otherwise indicated.

 

Going concern

 

In common with many companies in the biopharmaceutical sector, the Company incurs significant expenditure in its early years as it researches and develops its potential products for market.

 

The board of directors, having reviewed the operating budgets and development plans, consider that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operation for the foreseeable future. The board of directors is therefore satisfied that it is appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements. The Company believes that its cash and cash equivalents of £20.0 million at December 31, 2016, will be sufficient to fund its current operating plan for at least the next 12 months. As the Company continues to incur losses, the transition to profitability is dependent upon the successful development, approval and commercialization of its product candidates and achieving a level of revenues adequate to support its cost structure. The Company may never achieve profitability, and unless and until it does, it will continue to need to raise additional capital.

 

The Company intends to fund future operations through additional equity offerings and may seek additional capital through arrangements from other sources. There can be no assurances, however, that additional funding will be available on acceptable terms.

 

Judgements and estimates

 

The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported for assets and liabilities at the balance sheet dates and the amounts reported for

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

2. Significant accounting policies (continued)

 

revenue and expenses during the year. The nature of estimations means that actual outcomes could differ from those estimates.

 

The following judgements have had the most significant effect on the amounts recognized in the financial statements:

 

Research and development expenses

 

The Company recognizes research and development expenses in the statement of operations in the period in which it is incurred. When development activities reach the advanced stage, as set out in the specific criteria of International Accounting Standard (“IAS”) 38, Intangible Assets, there will be a requirement to capitalize such costs as intangible assets. Management will continue to exercise judgement in the appropriate treatment of development costs.

 

Taxation

 

Management judgement is required to determine the amount of deferred tax assets that should be recognized, based upon the likely timing and level of future taxable profits. Further details are contained in Note 6.

 

The following estimate has had the most significant effect on the amounts recognized in the financial statements:

 

Share-based payments

 

Estimating fair value for share-based payment transactions requires determination of the most appropriate valuation model, which depends on the terms and conditions of the grant. This estimate also requires determination of the most appropriate inputs to the valuation model, including the expected life of the share option or appreciation right, volatility, dividend yield and making assumptions about them and, in the case of the Company, the value of an ordinary share. For the measurement of the fair value of equity-settled transactions with employees at the grant date, the Company uses the Black-Scholes model. The assumptions and models used for estimating fair value for share-based payment transactions are disclosed in Note 12.

 

Basis of consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements comprise the financial statements of the Company as of December 31, 2016 and 2015.

 

Subsidiaries are consolidated from the date of acquisition, being the date on which the Company obtains control, and continue to be consolidated until the date when such control ceases. The financial statements of the subsidiaries are prepared for the same reporting period as the parent company, using consistent accounting policies. All intra-group balances, transactions, unrealized gains and losses resulting from intra-group transactions and dividends are eliminated in full.

 

Assets, liabilities, income and expenses of a subsidiary acquired or disposed of during the year are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date the Company gains control until the date the Company ceases to control the subsidiary.

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

2. Significant accounting policies (continued)

 

Segment reporting

 

The Company operates in one operating segment. The Company’s chief operating decision maker (the “CODM”), its Chief Executive Officer, manages the Company’s operations on an integrated basis for the purposes of allocating resources. The Company’s principal operations and decision-making functions are located in the United Kingdom. The CODM makes decisions on a global basis from there. Accordingly, the Company has determined that it operates in a single reporting segment.

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

Office and computer equipment is stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses, if any. There are no restrictions on title or equipment pledged as security for liabilities.

Depreciation is provided on office and computer equipment over their expected useful economic life as follows:

 

Asset class		Depreciation method and rate
Office and computer equipment		Straight-line over 3 years

 

Intangible assets

 

Intangible assets are stated at cost, net of accumulated amortization and accumulated impairment losses, if any. Cost in relation to patents includes registration, documentation and other legal fees associated with obtaining the patent. Software costs represent the initial purchase price of the asset.

 

The amortization method and period for the principal categories of intangible assets is calculated as follows:

 

Asset class		Amortization method and rate
Patents		Reverse sum of digits over 20 years
Computer software		Straight-line between 3 and 5 years

 

The amortization period and the amortization method for an intangible asset with a finite useful life are reviewed at least at each financial year-end. We also consider the profile of patents on a case-by-case basis and in appropriate circumstances we will use the straight-line method. Changes in the expected useful economic life or the expected pattern of consumption of future economic benefits embodied in the asset are accounted for by changing the amortization period or method, as appropriate. These changes are made on a prospective basis and treated as changes in accounting estimates.

 

Intangible assets are tested for impairment when a trigger event occurs.

 

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term deposits

 

Cash and cash equivalents in the statement of financial position include cash at banks with a maturity of less than three months, which are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value.

 

Short-term deposits represent certificates of deposits with banks with maturities of greater than three months but less than one year.

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

2. Significant accounting policies (continued)

 

Research and development

 

Research and development expenses are currently recognized in the statement of operations in the year in which it is incurred. Development expenditures on an individual project will be recognized as an intangible asset when the Company can demonstrate:

 

•

the technical feasibility of completing the intangible asset so that the asset will be available for use or sale;

 

•

its intention to complete and its ability and intention to use or sell the asset;

 

•

how the asset will generate future economic benefits;

 

•

the availability of resources to complete the asset; and

 

•

the ability to measure reliably the expenditure during development.

 

Income Taxes

 

Current income tax

 

Current income tax assets and liabilities are measured at the amount expected to be recovered from or paid to the taxation authorities. The tax rates and tax laws used to compute the amount are those that are enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting date in the countries where the Company operates and generates taxable income.

 

Deferred income tax

 

Deferred income tax is provided in full, using the liability method, on temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the Company’s financial statements. However, the deferred income tax is not accounted for, if it arises from initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction other than a business combination that at the time of the transaction affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss. Deferred income tax is determined using tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantially enacted by the balance sheet date and are expected to apply when the related deferred income tax asset is realized or the deferred tax liability is settled. Deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the temporary differences can be utilized.

 

Income tax credit

 

The Company benefits from the U.K. research and development tax credit regime whereby a portion of the Company’s losses can be surrendered for a cash rebate of up to 33.35% of eligible expenditures. Such credits are accounted for within the tax provision, in the year in which the expenditures were incurred.

 

Operating leases

 

Leases where the lessor retains substantially all the risks and benefits of ownership of the asset are classified as operating leases and rentals payable are charged in the consolidated statement of operations on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

 

Impairment of non-financial assets

 

The Company assesses, at each reporting date, whether there is an indication that an asset may be impaired. If any indication exists, the Company estimates the asset’s recoverable amount.

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

2. Significant accounting policies (continued)

 

An impairment loss is recognized whenever the carrying amount of an asset or its cash-generating unit exceeds its recoverable amount. Impairment losses are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations.

 

A cash-generating unit is the smallest identifiable group of assets that generates cash inflows that are largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets.

 

Calculation of recoverable amount

 

The recoverable amount of assets and cash-generating units is the higher of their fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. For an asset that does not generate largely independent cash inflows, the recoverable amount is determined for the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.

 

Reversal of impairment

 

An assessment is made at each reporting date as to whether there is an indication that a previously recognized impairment loss may no longer exist or may have decreased. If such an indication exists, the recoverable amount is estimated.

 

A previously recognized impairment loss is reversed only if there has been a change in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount since the last impairment loss was recognized. If that is the case, the carrying value is increased to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is reversed only to the extent that the asset’s carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation or amortization, if no impairment loss had been recognized.

 

Share-based payments

 

Employees, directors and consultants of the Company receive remuneration in the form of share-based payments, whereby individuals render services as consideration for equity instruments (share options).

 

Under IFRS 2 Share-based Payment, equity share-based payments are measured at the fair value of the equity instruments at the grant date. Details regarding the determination of fair value of equity settled share-based transactions are set out in Note 12.

 

The fair value determined at the grant date of equity settled share-based payments is expensed on a straight line basis over the vesting period, with a corresponding increase in equity to the share option reserve.

 

Fair value measurement

 

Fair value is based on the price that would be received from the sale of an asset or that would be paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In order to increase consistency and comparability in fair value measurements, IFRS 7 establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes observable and unobservable inputs used to measure fair value into three broad levels, which are described as follows:

 

Level 1: Quoted (unadjusted) prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

2. Significant accounting policies (continued)

 

Level 2: Other techniques for which all inputs that have a significant effect on the recorded fair value are observable, either directly or indirectly.

 

Level 3: Techniques that use inputs that have a significant effect on the recorded fair value that are not based on observable market data.

 

Accounting Standards

 

In preparing these financial statements, the Company has applied all relevant IAS, IFRS and International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (“IFRIC”) Interpretations as of the date of approval of these financial statements and which are mandatory for the financial year ended December 31, 2016.

 

The following accounting standards and interpretations have been adopted as of January 1, 2016 in these financial statements and have not had a material impact on the Company’s accounts in the period of initial application:

 

Amendments to IAS 1 Disclosure Initiative

 

The amendments to IAS 1 clarify, rather than significantly change, existing IAS 1 requirements. The amendments clarify:

 

•

The materiality requirements in IAS 1

 

•

That specific line items in the statement(s) of operations and other comprehensive income (“OCI”) and the statement of financial position may be disaggregated

 

•

That entities have flexibility as to the order in which they present the notes to financial statements

 

•

That the share of OCI of associates and joint ventures accounted for using the equity method must be presented in aggregate as a single line item, and classified between those items that will or will not be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss. Furthermore, the amendments clarify the requirements that apply when additional subtotals are presented in the statement of financial position and the statement(s) of operations and OCI.

 

Amendments to IAS 27: Equity Method in Separate Financial Statements

 

The amendments allow entities to use the equity method to account for investments in subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates in their separate financial statements. Entities already applying IFRS and electing to change to the equity method in their separate financial statements have to apply that change retrospectively.

 

Annual Improvements 2012-2014 Cycle

 

These improvements include:

 

IFRS 5 Non-current Assets Held for Sale

 

Assets (or disposal groups) are generally disposed of either through sale or distribution to the owners. The amendment clarifies that changing from one of these disposal methods to the other would not be considered a new plan of disposal, rather it is a continuation of the original plan. There is, therefore, no interruption of the application of the requirements in IFRS 5. This amendment is applied prospectively.

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

2. Significant accounting policies (continued)

 

IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures

 

(i)

Servicing contracts

 

The amendment clarifies that a servicing contract that includes a fee can constitute continuing involvement in a financial asset. An entity must assess the nature of the fee and the arrangement against the guidance for continuing involvement in IFRS 7 in order to assess whether the disclosures are required. The assessment of which servicing contracts constitute continuing involvement must be done retrospectively. However, the required disclosures need not be provided for any period beginning before the annual period in which the entity first applies the amendments.

 

(ii)

Applicability of the amendments to IFRS 7 to condensed interim financial statements

 

The amendment clarifies that the offsetting disclosure requirements do not apply to condensed interim financial statements, unless such disclosures provide a significant update to the information reported in the most recent annual report. This amendment is applied retrospectively.

 

IAS 19 Employee Benefits

 

The amendment clarifies that market depth of high quality corporate bonds is assessed based on the currency in which the obligation is denominated, rather than the country where the obligation is located. When there is no deep market for high quality corporate bonds in that currency, government bond rates must be used. This amendment is applied prospectively.

 

IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting

 

The amendment clarifies that the required interim disclosures must either be in the interim financial statements or incorporated by cross-reference between the interim financial statements and wherever they are included within the interim financial report (e.g., in the management commentary or risk report). The other information within the interim financial report must be available to users on the same terms as the interim financial statements and at the same time. This amendment is applied retrospectively.

 

Amendments to IAS 16 and IAS 38: Clarification of Acceptable Methods of Depreciation and Amortization

 

The amendments clarify the principle in IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment and IAS 38 Intangible Assets that revenue reflects a pattern of economic benefits that are generated from operating a business (of which the asset is a part) rather than the economic benefits that are consumed through use of the asset. As a result, a revenue-based method cannot be used to depreciate property, plant and equipment and may only be used in very limited circumstances to amortise intangible assets. The amendments are applied prospectively and do not have any impact on the Company, given that it has not used a revenue-based method to depreciate its non-current assets.

 

The IASB and IFRIC have issued the following standards and interpretations, which are considered relevant to the Company, with an effective date after the date of these financial statements.

 

Amendments to IAS 12: Recognition of Deferred Tax Assets for Unrealized Losses

 

The amendments clarify that an entity needs to consider whether tax law restricts the sources of taxable profits against which it may make deductions on the reversal of that deductible temporary difference. Furthermore, the amendments provide guidance on how an entity should determine future taxable profits and explain the circumstances in which taxable profit may include the recovery of some assets for more than their carrying amount. Entities are required to apply the amendments retrospectively. However, on initial application

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

2. Significant accounting policies (continued)

 

of the amendments, the change in the opening equity of the earliest comparative period may be recognized in opening retained earnings (or in another component of equity, as appropriate), without allocating the change between opening retained earnings and other components of equity. Entities applying this relief must disclose that fact. These amendments are effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2017, with early application permitted. These amendments are not expected to have a material impact on the Company.

 

Amendments to IAS 7: Disclosure Initiative

 

The amendments to IAS 7 Statement of Cash Flows aim to help users of financial statements better understand changes in an entity’s debt. The amendments require entities to provide disclosures about changes in their liabilities arising from financing activities, including both changes arising from cash flows and non-cash changes (such as foreign exchange gains or losses). This amendment is effective for annual periods on or after January 1, 2017. This amendment is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s disclosure.

 

IFRS 9: Financial Instruments

 

In July 2014, the IASB issued the final version of IFRS 9 Financial Instruments that replaces IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement and all previous versions of IFRS 9. IFRS 9 brings together all three aspects of the accounting for financial instruments project: classification and measurement, impairment and hedge accounting. IFRS 9 is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018, with early application permitted. Except for hedge accounting, retrospective application is required but providing comparative information is not compulsory. For hedge accounting, the requirements are generally applied prospectively, with some limited exceptions. The Company expects no material impact on its balance sheet and equity.

 

IFRS 16: Leases

 

IFRS 16 was issued in January 2016 and it replaces IAS 17 Leases, IFRIC 4 Determining Whether an Arrangement Contains a Lease, SIC-15 Operating Leases-Incentives and SIC-27 Evaluating the Substance of Transactions Involving the Legal Form of a Lease. IFRS 16 sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases and requires lessees to account for all leases under a single on-balance sheet model similar to the accounting for finance leases under IAS 17. The standard includes two recognition exemptions for lessees—leases of ’low-value’ assets (e.g., personal computers) and short-term leases (i.e., leases with a lease term of 12 months or less). At the commencement date of a lease, a lessee will recognize a liability to make lease payments (i.e., the lease liability) and an asset representing the right to use the underlying asset during the lease term (i.e., the right-of-use asset). Lessees will be required to separately recognize the interest expense on the lease liability and the depreciation expense on the right-of-use asset. Lessees will also be required to remeasure the lease liability upon the occurrence of certain events (e.g., a change in the lease term, a change in future lease payments resulting from a change in an index or rate used to determine those payments). The lessee will generally recognize the amount of the remeasurement of the lease liability as an adjustment to the right-of-use asset.

 

Lessor accounting under IFRS 16 is substantially unchanged from today’s accounting under IAS 17. Lessors will continue to classify all leases using the same classification principle as in IAS 17 and distinguish between two types of leases: operating and finance leases. IFRS 16 also requires lessees and lessors to make more extensive disclosures than under IAS 17. IFRS 16 is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2019. Early application is permitted, but not before an entity applies IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

2. Significant accounting policies (continued)

 

Customers. A lessee can choose to apply the standard using either a full retrospective or a modified retrospective approach. The standard’s transition provisions permit certain reliefs. The Company is currently assessing the potential impact of IFRS 16 on its consolidated financial statements.

 

Amendments to IFRS 2: Classification and Measurement of Share-based Payment Transactions

 

The IASB issued amendments to IFRS 2 Share-based Payment that address three main areas: the effects of vesting conditions on the measurement of a cash-settled share-based payment transaction; the classification of a share-based payment transaction with net settlement features for withholding tax obligations; and accounting where a modification to the terms and conditions of a share-based payment transaction changes its classification from cash settled to equity settled. On adoption, entities are required to apply the amendments without restating prior periods, but retrospective application is permitted if elected for all three amendments and other criteria are met. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018, with early application permitted. This amendment is not expected to have a material impact on the Company.

 

Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2014-2016 Cycle

 

IFRS 1 First-time Adoption of IFRS

 

This amendment deleted the short-term exemptions in paragraphs E3–E7 of IFRS 1, because they have now served their intended purpose.

 

IFRS 12 Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities

 

This amendment clarified the scope of the standard by specifying that the disclosure requirements in the standard, except for those in paragraphs B10–B16, apply to an entity’s interests listed in paragraph 5 that are classified as held for sale, as held for distribution or as discontinued operations in accordance with IFRS 5 Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations.

 

These amendments are not expected to have a material impact on the Company.

 

IFRIC Interpretation 22 Foreign Currency Transactions and Advance Consideration

 

The interpretation clarifies that in determining the spot exchange rate to use on initial recognition of a related asset, expense or income (or part of it) on the derecognition of a non-monetary asset or non-monetary liability relating to advance consideration, the date of the transaction is the date on which an entity initially recognises the non-monetary asset or non-monetary liability arising from the advance consideration. If there are multiple payments or receipts in advance, then the entity must determine a date of the transactions for each payment or receipt of advance consideration. This interpretation is not expected to have a material impact on the Company.

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

3. Staff costs

 

Included in research and development expenses:

 

		2016				2015
		(in thousands)
		£				£
Wages and salaries			2,241				1,366
Social security costs			205				151
Pension costs and other benefits			102				92
Share-based payments			1,027				709
			3,575				2,318

 

Included in administrative expenses:

 

		2016				2015
		(in thousands)
		£				£
Wages and salaries			84				108
Social security costs			13				52
Pension costs and other benefits			7				15
Share-based payments			105				76
			209				251
Total employee benefit expense			3,784				2,569

 

The average number of staff employed under contracts of service were:

 

		Number				Number
Research and development activities			15				11
Administrative activities			1				1
			16				12

 

Directors’ remuneration & other benefits

 

		2016				2015
		(in thousands)
		£				£
Directors’ remuneration			549				526
Pension and other benefits			34				77
			583				603

The number of directors who exercised share options in 2016 is 1 (2015: nil).

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

3. Staff costs (continued)

 

The above amounts for remuneration include the following in respect of the highest paid director:

 

		2016				2015
		(in thousands)
		£				£
Directors’ remuneration			378				318
Pension and other benefits			29				61
			407				379

 

4. Basic and diluted loss per share

 

		2016				2015
		(in thousands)
		£				£
Loss for the year			(6,049	)			(5,332	)
Basic and diluted weighted average number of shares			96,429				96,406
		£				£
Basic and diluted loss per share			(0.06	)			(0.06	)

 

Basic loss per share is calculated by dividing the loss for the year attributable to the equity holders of the Company by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year.

 

The dilutive effect of potential shares through equity settled transactions were considered to be anti-dilutive as they would have decreased the loss per share and were therefore excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share.

 

5. Operating lease arrangements

 

Operating leases relate to rental of office space. The leases are renewed for 12 or 24 months. All operating lease contracts contain clauses for market rental reviews on renewal. The Company does not have an option to purchase the leased office at the expiry of the lease periods. Operating lease expense for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 was £0.2 million and £0.1 million, respectively.

 

Future minimum rentals payable under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:

 

		2016				2015
		(in thousands)
		£				£
Not later than 1 year			192				166
Later than 1 year and not later than 5 years			62				—
Later than 5 years			—				—
			254				166

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

6. Income tax credit

 

The major components of income tax for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 are as follows:

 

		2016				2015
		(in thousands)
		£				£
Current tax:
In respect of current year U.K.			1,906				1,182
In respect of current year U.S.			(28	)			(6	)
In respect of prior years U.K.			235				—
In respect of prior years U.S.			3				—
Total current tax			2,116				1,176
Deferred tax			—				—
Current income tax receivable:
U.K. tax			2,141				1,182
U.S. tax			54				—
Current income tax receivable			2,195				1,182
Current income tax payable:
U.S. tax			—				6

 

The credit for the year can be reconciled to the loss per the statement of operations as follows:

 

		2016				2015
		(in thousands)
		£				£
Loss before tax			(8,165	)			(6,508	)
Tax on loss at standard U.K. tax rate of 20.00% (2015: 20.25%)			(1,633	)			(1,318	)
Effects of:
Adjustments in respect of prior years			—				—
Expenses not deductible			1,301				888
Deduction for R&D			(2,629	)			(1,650	)
Losses surrendered for R&D tax credit			2,629				1,650
Overseas tax payable			24				6
R&D tax credit—current year			(1,906	)			(1,182	)
R&D tax credit—prior years			(235	)			—
Deferred tax asset not recognized			333				430
Income tax credit			(2,116	)			(1,176	)

 

The Company has not recognized a deferred tax asset in respect of tax losses carried forward as at December 31, 2016 on the basis that the timing during which tax losses could be regarded as recoverable against future taxable profits cannot be determined with reasonable certainty.

 

Temporary differences and cumulative carry forward tax losses for which deferred tax has not been recognized amount to £32.5 million (2015: £10.1 million).

 

U.K. tax legislation, which was substantively enacted on October 26, 2015, includes legislation that will reduce the main rate of U.K. corporation tax from 20% to 18%. This decrease is to be phased in with a reduction

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

6. Income tax credit (continued)

 

to 19%, effective from April 1, 2017, and a reduction to 18%, effective from April 1, 2020. Further, as announced on March 16, 2016, that the full rate of U.K. corporation tax will reduce by a further 1% to 17% from April 1, 2020. This further reduction was included within the U.K. tax legislation, which was substantively enacted on September 6, 2016.

 

7. Intangible assets

 

		Patents				Computer Software				Total
		(in thousands)
		£				£				£
Cost:
At December 31, 2014			614				—				614
Additions			390				—				390
At December 31, 2015			1,004				—				1,004
Accumulated amortization:
At December 31, 2014			41				—				41
Charge for the year			36				—				36
At December 31, 2015			77				—				77
Cost:
At December 31, 2015			1,004				—				1,004
Additions			529				10				539
At December 31, 2016			1,533				10				1,543
Accumulated amortization:
At December 31, 2015			77				—				77
Charge for the year			86				3				89
At December 31, 2016			163				3				166
Net book value:
At December 31, 2016			1,370				7				1,377
At December 31, 2015			927				—				927

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

8. Property, plant and equipment

 

		Office and computer equipment
		(in thousands)
		£
Cost:
At December 31, 2014			31
Additions			6
Effect of foreign currency exchange differences			—
At December 31, 2015			37
Depreciation:
At December 31, 2014			15
Charge for the year			8
Effect of foreign currency exchange differences			—
At December 31, 2015			23
Cost:
At December 31, 2015			37
Additions			15
Disposals			(1	)
Effect of foreign currency exchange differences			1
At December 31, 2016			52
Depreciation:
At December 31, 2015			23
Charge for the year			12
Disposals			(1	)
Effect of foreign currency exchange differences			—
At December 31, 2016			34
Net book value:
At December 31, 2016			18
At December 31, 2015			14

 

9. Prepayments, accrued income and other receivables

 

		2016				2015
		(in thousands)
		£				£
Prepayments—manufacturing and clinical			3,050				—
Prepayments—other			173				54
Accrued income			21				149
VAT			198				154
Other receivables			192				18
			3,634				375

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

10. Share capital and share premium

 

		2016				2015
		(in thousands)
		£				£
Share capital			663				659
Share premium			42,770				42,574
			43,433				43,233
		Number				Number
		(in thousands)
Issued share capital comprises:
Ordinary shares of £0.01 each			24,955				24,622
Founder ordinary 1 shares of £0.01 each			4,000				4,000
Founder ordinary 2 shares of £0.01 each			4,000				4,000
Series A shares of £0.01 each			29,933				29,933
Series B shares of £0.001 each			33,850				33,850
			96,739				96,405

 

The table above does not total due to rounding.

 

		Number of shares				Share capital				Share premium
		(in thousands)
						£				£
Fully paid shares:
Balance at January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015			96,406				659				42,574
Issue of shares on exercise of options			333				4				196
Balance at December 31, 2016			96,739				663				42,770

 

Ordinary shares

 

The ordinary shares rank equally with all other shares in issue in that on a poll every member shall have one vote for each ordinary share held (save for the enhanced voting rights referred to in the founder ordinary shares). The ordinary shares rank equally with all other shares in issue in respect of any rights to any dividend distribution. The ordinary shares rank equally with all other shares in issue in respect of any rights to any capital distribution. The ordinary shares are not redeemable.

 

Founder ordinary shares

 

Upon shareholder vote, the founder ordinary 1 shares and the founder ordinary 2 shares shall as separate classes of shares each confer upon the holders of such classes of shares such number of votes, which equals at least 5% of all votes exercisable by all holders of shares.

 

Series A shares

 

The series A shares rank equally with all other shares in issue in that on a vote every member shall have one vote for each series A share held (save for the enhanced voting rights conferred upon the founder ordinary shares). The series A shares rank equally with all others shares in respect of any rights to any dividend

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

10. Share capital and share premium (continued)

 

distribution. The series A shares rank equally with all other shares in issue in respect of any rights to any capital distribution. The series A shares are not redeemable.

 

Series B shares

 

The series B shares rank equally with all other shares in issue (save for the enhanced voting rights conferred upon the founder ordinary shares). The series B shares rank equally with all other shares in issue in respect of any rights to any dividend distribution. The series B shares rank equally with all other shares in respect of any rights to any capital distribution. The series B shares are not redeemable.

 

Capital management

 

For the purpose of the Company’s capital management, capital includes issued capital, share premium and all other equity reserves attributable to the equity holders of the Company. The purpose of the Company’s capital management is to maximize shareholder value and ensure adequate capital is available to meet the medium-term operating plan. Review of operations and commitments is key to identifying future capital management and a full review is undertaken on a quarterly basis.

 

No changes were made in the objectives, policies or processes for managing capital during the year ended December 31, 2015 or the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

11. Other reserves

 

		2016				2015
		(in thousands)
		£				£
Own share reserve			(339	)			(339	)
Foreign currency translation reserve			(3	)			(1	)
Share option reserve
Balance at beginning of year			3,291				2,506
Share-based payments			1,132				785
Exercise of share options			(17	)			—
Balance at end of year			4,406				3,291
Total other reserves			4,064				2,951

 

Foreign currency translation reserve

 

The foreign currency translation reserve is used to record exchange differences arising from the translation of the financial statements of foreign operations.

 

Own share reserve

 

The own share reserve represents the cost of 2,000,000 shares of NuCana BioMed Limited purchased by NuCana Employee Benefit Trust and that may, at the discretion of the trustee, be used to satisfy future exercise of options under the Company’s share options plan.

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

11. Other reserves (continued)

 

Share option reserve

 

The share option reserve is used to recognize the value of equity-settled share-based payments provided to employees, directors and consultants as part of their remuneration. Refer to Note 12 for further details of these plans.

 

12. Share-based payments

 

The Company has three share-based payment plans for employees, directors and consultants. The share options granted will be settled in equity. In 2016, share options were granted under the following share-based payment plans:

 

U.K. share-based payment plans

 

Options granted under these plans will vest if the option holder remains under their respective employment/consultancy contract for the agreed vesting period. The majority of the share options granted under these plans will vest equally over a period of four years, with the exception of the following:

 

1)

options granted to a director, under which a third of the options granted vested immediately with the remaining two-thirds vesting each subsequent year; and

 

2)

options granted to three employees, under which two thirds of the options vested immediately with the remaining third vesting in 2017.

 

Upon vesting, each option allows the holder to purchase one ordinary share at a specified option price determined at grant date.

 

Stock option plan (U.S. Sub-Plan)

 

On June 30, 2016, share options were granted under this sub-plan, which will vest equally over a period of four years if the option holder remains under the respective employment contract. Upon vesting, each option allows the holder to purchase one ordinary share at a specified option price determined at grant date.

 

On December 12, 2016, 183,000 share options were granted to a director with an exercise price of £1.00 each, which could be exercised within six months after the grant date. The options were exercised on December 29, 2016. Under the employment requirements within the stock option agreement, the director does not have unconditional ownership of these shares until he has provided four years of service from the grant date. Consequently, these options vest over a period of four years, with the share-based payment expense recognized on a straight line basis.

 

Cancelled share option arrangement

 

During the year ended December 31, 2016, the share-based payment arrangements for three employees were cancelled. The cancellation of the original plan resulted in an acceleration of the remaining vesting period, with the remaining charge recognized in 2016 deemed immaterial.

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

12. Share-based payments (continued)

 

Share options and weighted average exercise prices are as follows for the reporting periods presented:

 

		Number of shares				Weighted average exercise price per share
						£
Outstanding at January 1, 2015			11,495,000				0.07
Granted			—				—
Forfeited			—				—
Exercised			—				—
Outstanding at December 31, 2015			11,495,000				0.07
Granted			2,030,760				0.95
Forfeited			—				—
Cancelled			(200,000	)			0.74
Exercised			(333,000	)			0.60
Outstanding at December 31, 2016			12,992,760				0.18
Vested and exercisable at December 31, 2016			11,365,690				0.09
Vested and exercisable at December 31, 2015			9,050,000				0.06

 

The weighted average remaining contractual life of the share options outstanding as at December 31, 2016 is 6.66 years (2015: 6.18).

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

12. Share-based payments (continued)

 

The following principal assumptions were used in the valuation for share options.

 

		Options granted on
			Jun 30, 2016				Aug 22, 2016				Aug 22, 2016				Aug 22, 2016				Aug 22, 2016
Vesting dates			Oct 12, 2016				Aug 22, 2016				Aug 22, 2016				Dec 07, 2016				Mar 01, 2017
			Oct 12, 2017				Aug 22, 2017				Aug 22, 2017				Dec 07, 2017				Mar 01, 2018
			Oct 12, 2018												Dec 07, 2018				Mar 01, 2019
			Oct 12, 2019												Dec 07, 2019				Mar 01, 2020
Volatility			69.05	%			67.92	%			67.92	%			67.92	%			67.92	%
Dividend yield			0	%			0	%			0	%			0	%			0	%
Risk-free investment rate			0.11	%			0.07	%			0.07	%			0.07	%			0.07	%
Fair value of option at grant date		£	1.01			£	1.54			£	1.50			£	1.44			£	1.40
Fair value of share at grant date		£	1.74			£	2.15			£	2.15			£	2.15			£	2.15
Exercise price at date of grant		£	1.00			£	0.70			£	0.75			£	0.85			£	0.90
Lapse date			June 30, 2026				Aug 22, 2026				Aug 22, 2026				Aug 22, 2026				Aug 22, 2026
Expected option life (years)			2.50				2.36				2.36				2.36				2.36
Number of options granted			1,082,760				50,000				150,000				100,000				45,000
		Options granted on
			Aug 22, 2016				Aug 22, 2016				Oct 28, 2016				Oct 28, 2016				Dec 12, 2016
Vesting dates			May 01, 2017				May 16, 2017				Oct 28, 2017				Oct 28, 2016				Dec 12, 2017
			May 01, 2018				May 16, 2018				Oct 28, 2018				Oct 28, 2017				Dec 12, 2018
			May 01, 2019				May 16, 2019				Oct 28, 2019				Oct 28, 2018				Dec 12, 2019
			May 01, 2020				May 16, 2020				Oct 28, 2020								Dec 12, 2020
Volatility			67.92	%			67.92	%			68.38	%			68.38	%			60.92	%
Dividend yield			0	%			0	%			0	%			0	%			0	%
Risk-free investment rate			0.07	%			0.07	%			0.28	%			0.28	%			0.06	%
Fair value of option at grant date		£	1.40			£	1.40			£	1.46			£	1.37			£	1.30
Fair value of share at grant date		£	2.15			£	2.15			£	2.19			£	2.19			£	2.30
Exercise price at date of grant		£	0.90			£	0.90			£	0.85			£	1.00			£	1.00
Lapse date			Aug 22, 2026				Aug 22, 2026				Oct 28, 2026				Oct 28, 2026				Dec 12, 2026
Expected option life (years)			2.36				2.36				2.17				2.17				0.50
Number of options granted			20,000				150,000				50,000				200,000				183,000

 

The fair values of options granted were determined using the Black-Scholes model that takes into account factors specific to the share incentive plan such as the assumption that the options will be exercised at a single point in time, in December 2018. This has been incorporated into the measurement by means of actuarial modelling. As NuCana BioMed Limited was unlisted at the grant date of the options, it is not possible to derive historical volatility from the Company’s own share price. The underlying expected volatility was therefore determined by using the historical volatility of similar listed entities as a proxy. The volatility percentage applied to each tranche is the average of the historical volatility of comparable companies to NuCana BioMed Limited. In prior years, management made contemporaneous valuation of the share price, based on recent capital transactions, as an input to the Black-Scholes model. For the 2016 awards, the Company’s ordinary share valuations were prepared using the guideline public company, or GPC, method under the market approach. In the application of the GPC method, we considered the pricing of IPOs completed by clinical-stage oncology companies between April 2015 and May 2016. We converted prospective IPO value to present value by applying a discount rate of 25%. The discount rate was derived from studies of rates of return required by venture investors in IPO-stage companies. In addition to the IPO GPCs, we considered the enterprise values indicated by a group of eight trading GPCs. The trading prices of these clinical-stage GPCs provided contemporaneous

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

12. Share-based payments (continued)

 

indications of value as of each appraisal date. We applied a discount for lack of marketability to the ordinary shares to account for the lack of access to an active public market. We estimated the discount for lack of marketability using an Asian put model. In the year ended December 31, 2016, an employee remuneration expense, all of which related to equity-settled share-based payments, of £1.1 million (2015: £0.8 million) has been included in the statement of operations and credited to equity.

 

13. Related party disclosures

 

Compensation of key management personnel of the Company

 

		2016				2015
		(in thousands)
		£				£
Short-term employee benefits			1,053				647
Severance payments			150				—
Pension and other benefits			47				77
Share-based payments			731				726
			1,981				1,450

 

The amounts disclosed in the table above are the amounts recognized as an expense during the reporting year related to key management personnel.

 

14. Cash, cash equivalents and short-term deposits

 

		2016				2015
		(in thousands)
		£				£
Cash and cash equivalents			19,990				14,112

 

Cash and cash equivalents are comprised of cash at bank with maturity of three months or less, which are subject to insignificant risk of changes in value. Cash at bank earns interest at fixed or variable rates based on the terms agreed for each account.

 

		2016				2015
		(in thousands)
		£				£
Short-term deposits			—				15,075

 

Short-term deposits represent certificates of deposits with maturities greater than three months but less than one year.

 

Liquidity risk is minimal and is managed using deposits with immediate and varied fixed term dates.

 

Cash, cash equivalents and short term deposits are measured at fair value and classified as Level 1 under the fair value level hierarchy.

 

15. Financial instruments

 

The fair value of the financial assets and liabilities are included at the amount at which the instrument could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties, other than in a forced liquidation or sale.

 

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NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

15. Financial instruments (continued)

 

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair values:

 

Cash, cash equivalents, short-term deposits, other receivables, trade payables and other payables approximate their carrying amounts largely due to the short-term maturities of these instruments.

 

16. Events after the reporting period

 

Subsequent to December 31, 2016, there were no events that were required to be reported.

 

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Table of Contents

 

 

 

                American Depositary Shares

 

 

Representing                  Ordinary Shares

 

 

 

PRELIMINARY  PROSPECTUS

 

                             , 2017

 

 

 

Citigroup

Jefferies

Cowen

William Blair

 

Through and including                 , 2017 (25 days after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that buy, sell, or trade the ADSs, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

Part II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS

 

Item 6. Indemnification of directors and officers

 

Members of the registrant’s board of directors and its officers have the benefit of the following indemnification provisions in the registrant’s Articles of Association:

 

Current and former members of the registrant’s board of directors or officers shall be reimbursed for:

 

(a) all costs, charges, losses, expenses and liabilities sustained or incurred in relation to his or her actual or purported execution of his or her duties in relation to the registrant, including any liability incurred in defending any criminal or civil proceedings; and

 

(b) expenses incurred or to be incurred in defending any criminal or civil proceedings, in an investigation by a regulatory authority or against a proposed action to be taken by a regulatory authority, or in connection with any application for relief under the statutes of the United Kingdom and any other statutes that concern and affect the registrant as a company, or collectively the Statutes, arising in relation to the registrant or an associated company, by virtue of the actual or purposed execution of the duties of his or her office or the exercise of his or her powers.

 

In the case of current or former members of the registrant’s board of directors, there shall be no entitlement to reimbursement as referred to above for (i) any liability incurred to the registrant or any associated company,(ii) the payment of a fine imposed in any criminal proceeding or a penalty imposed by a regulatory authority for non-compliance with any requirement of a regulatory nature, (iii) the defense of any criminal proceeding if the member of the registrant’s board of directors is convicted, (iv) the defense of any civil proceeding brought by the registrant or an associated company in which judgment is given against the director, and (v) any application for relief under the statutes of the United Kingdom and any other statutes that concern and affect the registrant as a company in which the court refuses to grant relief to the director.

 

In addition, members of the registrant’s board of directors and its officers who have received payment from the registrant under these indemnification provisions must repay the amount they received in accordance with the Statutes or in any other circumstances that the registrant may prescribe or where the registrant has reserved the right to require repayment.

 

Under the Companies Act 2006, any provision (whether contained in a company’s articles of association or any contract or otherwise) that purports to exempt a director of a company, to any extent, from any liability that would otherwise attach to him in connection with any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the company is void.

 

The underwriting agreement the registrant will enter into in connection with the offering of ADSs being registered hereby provides that the underwriters will indemnify, under certain conditions, the registrant’s board of directors and its officers against certain liabilities arising in connection with this offering.

 

Item 7. Recent sales of unregistered securities

 

The following information is furnished with regard to all securities issued by the registrant within the last three years that were not registered under the Securities Act. The issuance of such shares was deemed exempt from registration requirements of the Securities Act as such securities were offered and sold outside of the United States to persons who were neither citizens nor residents of the United States or such sales were exempt from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of Securities Act or under Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

No underwriter or underwriting discount or commission was involved in any of the issuances set forth in this Item 7.

 

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Table of Contents

Issuance of Capital Stock

 

•

On March 31, 2014, the registrant issued 33,850,000 Series B shares to Sofinnova Capital, Sofinnova Partners, Morningside, Scottish Enterprise and Christopher McGuigan for aggregate consideration of £33.85 million.

 

Options to Purchase Ordinary Shares

 

Since January 1, 2014, the registrant issued an aggregate of 6,848,760 options to purchase ordinary shares under its equity incentive plans. Of these options:

 

•

options to purchase 200,000 ordinary shares have been canceled without being exercised;

 

•

options to purchase 303,000 ordinary shares have been exercised at a weighted average exercise price of £1.00 per share; and

 

•

options to purchase a total of 6,345,760 ordinary shares are currently outstanding, at a weighted average exercise price of £0.29 per share.

 

Item 8. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 

(a)

The exhibits to the registration statement are listed in the Exhibit Index to this registration statement and incorporated herein.

 

(b)

Financial Statement Schedules

 

All Schedules have been omitted because the information required to be presented in them is not applicable or is shown in the consolidated financial statements or related notes.

 

Item 9. Undertakings

 

(a)

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreements, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.

 

(b)

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

(c)

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

 

(1)

For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b) (1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective.

 

(2)

For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

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Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-1 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, on September 1, 2017.

 

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Hugh S. Griffith and Donald Munoz, and each of them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with the full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place or stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this registration statement (including post-effective amendments), and to sign any registration statement for the same offering covered by this registration statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act, and all post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature		Title		Date
/s/ Hugh S. Griffith Hugh S. Griffith		Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)		September 1, 2017
/s/ Donald Munoz Donald Munoz		Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)		September 1, 2017
/s/ Christopher Wood Christopher Wood		Chairman		September 1, 2017
/s/ Rafaèle Tordjman Rafaèle Tordjman		Director		September 1, 2017
/s/ James Healy James Healy		Director		September 1, 2017

 

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Table of Contents

Signature		Title		Date
/s/ Isaac Cheng Isaac Cheng		Director		September 1, 2017
/s/ Martin Mellish Martin Mellish		Director		September 1, 2017

 

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Table of Contents

SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED U.S. REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REGISTRANT

 

Pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of NuCana plc has signed this registration statement or amendment thereto on September 1, 2017.

 

 

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Table of Contents

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit Number		Description of Exhibit
1.1*		Form of Underwriting Agreement.
3.1		Articles of Association of the registrant effective prior to the re-registration of the registrant as a public limited company.
3.2		Articles of Association of the registrant, as currently in effect.
3.3*		Articles of Association of the registrant to be adopted with effect from the listing of our ADSs on Nasdaq (to be effective upon the completion of this offering).
4.1*		Form of certificate evidencing ordinary shares.
4.2*		Form of Deposit Agreement.
4.3*		Form of American Depositary Receipt (included in Exhibit 4.2).
5.1*		Opinion of Bristows LLP.
10.1#		2009 Share Option Scheme and form of option agreements thereunder.
10.2#		2012 Share Option Scheme and form of option agreements thereunder.
10.3#		2016 Share Option Scheme and form of option agreements thereunder.
10.4#*		2016 Share Option Scheme, as amended, and form of option agreements thereunder, to be effective upon the completion of this offering.
10.5†		Research, Collaboration and License Agreement, dated August  21, 2009, by and between the registrant, Cardiff University and University College Cardiff Consultants Ltd., as amended.
10.6†		Variation Agreement, dated March  15, 2012, by and between the registrant and Cardiff ProTides Limited and the related Side Letter, dated May 15, 2012.
10.7†		Assignment, License and Collaboration Agreement, dated October 13, 2009, by and between the registrant and Cardiff ProTides Limited.
10.8†		Patent Assignment Agreement, dated March 15, 2012, by and between the registrant and Cardiff ProTides Limited.
10.9*		Lease, dated as of             , between Drum Income Plus Limited and the registrant.
10.10*		Form of Registration Rights Agreement by and among the registrant and the Investors named therein, to be effective upon completion of this offering.
10.11#*		Form of Deed of Indemnity for Directors and Officers.
21.1		Subsidiaries of the registrant.
23.1		Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, registrant’s independent registered public accounting firm.
23.2*		Consent of Bristows LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1		Power of Attorney (included on signature page to the registration statement).

 

*

To be filed by amendment.

#

Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.

†

Confidential treatment has been requested as to portions of this exhibit. Confidential treatment materials have been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Exhibit 3.1

THE COMPANIES ACT 2006

COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES

NEW

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

of

NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

(Adopted by a special resolution passed on 31^st March 2014)

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Index

 

Clause No.				Page No.
1.		Introduction			1
2.		Definitions			1
3.		Share capital			10
4.		Dividends			11
5.		Votes in general meeting			11
6.		Conversion of Series A Shares, Series B Shares, Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and Founder Ordinary 2 Shares			12
7.		Anti-Dilution protection			14
8.		Variation of rights			16
9.		Allotment of new shares or other securities: pre-emption			17
10.		Transfers of Shares – general			19
11.		Permitted Transfers			21
12.		Transfers of Shares subject to pre-emption rights			23
13.		Valuation of Shares			27
14.		Compulsory transfers – general			29
15.		Compulsory transfer – employees			30
16.		Mandatory Offer on a Change of Control			30
17.		Not Used			32
18.		Drag-along			32
19.		General meetings			33
20.		Proxies			34
21.		Directors’ borrowing powers			35
22.		Alternate Directors			35
23.		Number of Directors			37
24.		Appointment of Directors			37
25.		Disqualification of Directors			38
26.		Proceedings of Directors			38
27.		Directors’ interests			39
28.		Notices			43
29.		Indemnities and insurance			46
30.		Data Protection			47
31.		Secretary			48

 

i

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32.		Lien			48
33.		Call Notices			49
34.		Forfeiture of Shares			51
35.		Surrender of Shares			53

 

ii

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THE COMPANIES ACT 2006

COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES

NEW

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

of

NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

(Adopted by a special resolution passed on 31^st March 2014)

 

1.	Introduction

 

1.1

The model articles for private companies limited by shares contained or incorporated in Schedule 1 to the Companies (Model Articles) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/3229) as amended prior to the date of adoption of these articles (the “Model Articles”) shall apply to the Company, save insofar as they are varied or excluded by, or are inconsistent with, the following Articles.

 

1.2	Table A in the Schedule to the Companies (Tables A to F) Regulations 1985 (as amended) (“Table A”) shall not apply to the Company.

 

1.3	In these Articles and the Model Articles any reference to any statutory provision shall be deemed to include a reference to each and every statutory amendment, modification, re-enactment and extension thereof for the time being in force.

 

1.4	In these Articles:

 

(a)

article headings are used for convenience only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of these Articles;

 

(b)

words denoting the singular include the plural and vice versa and reference to one gender includes the other gender and neuter and vice versa; and

 

(c)

Articles 8(2), 9(4), 10(3), 11(2), 13, 14, 17(2), 17(3), 19, 21, 26(5), 27, 28, 29, 30(5) to (7) (inclusive), 44(4), 51, 52 and 53 of the Model Articles shall not apply to the Company.

 

2.	Definitions

In these Articles the following words and expressions shall have the following meanings:

“Act” means the Companies Act 2006 (as amended from time to time);

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“Acting in Concert” has the meaning given to it in The City Code on Takeovers and Mergers published by the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers (as amended from time to time);

“Alida” means Alida Capital International Limited a company limited by guarantee incorporated in Scotland (registered number SC361482) and having its registered office at 10 Lochside Place, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH12 9RG;

“Alida Group” means Alida and each of Hugh Griffith, Christopher Wood, Codale Limited, Frank V. Sica, Castle View International Holdings Limited, Moira Adamson, Benjamin White, Christopher McGuigan, Maria McGuigan, Ian Abercrombie, Stuart Smith and Gavin Vinson and “member of the Alida Group” shall be construed accordingly;

“Anti-Dilution Shares” shall have the meaning given in Article 7.1;

“Associate” in relation to any person means:

 

(a)

any person who is an associate of that person and the question of whether a person is an associate of another is to be determined in accordance with section 435 of the Insolvency Act 1986 and (whether or not an associate as so determined);

 

(b)

any Member of the same Group;

 

(c)

any Member of the same Fund Group;

“Auditors” means the auditors of the Company from time to time;

“Available Profits” means profits available for distribution within the meaning of part 23 of the Act;

“Bad Leaver” means a person who ceases to be an Employee, (and who is not a Leaver or a Good Leaver) where such cessation of employment, directorship or consultancy occurs in circumstances where the Employee has their contract of service or employment terminated by reason of any fraud or gross misconduct;

“Board” means the board of Directors and any committee of the board constituted for the purpose of taking any action or decision contemplated by these Articles;

“Bonus Issue” or “Reorganisation” means any return of capital, bonus issue of shares of the Company by way of capitalisation of reserves (other than a capitalisation issue or other securities in substitution for or as an alternative to a cash dividend which is made available to the Series A Shareholders and the Series B Shareholders) or any consolidation or sub-division or any repurchase or redemption of shares in each case other than shares issued as a result of the events set out in Article 9.6;

 

2

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“Business Day” means a day on which English clearing banks are ordinarily open for the transaction of normal banking business in the City of London (other than a Saturday or Sunday);

“Civil Partner” means in relation to a Shareholder, a civil partner (as defined in the Civil Partnership Act 2004) of the Shareholder;

“Commencement Date” means the date the relevant Employee commences his employment with the Company;

“Company” means NuCana BioMed Limited (Company Number 03308778);

“Company’s Lien” has the meaning given in Article 32.1;

“Controlling Interest” means an interest in shares giving to the holder or holders control of the Company within the meaning of section 1124 of the CTA 2010;

“Conversion Date” has the meaning given in Article 6.1;

“CTA 2010” means the Corporation Tax Act 2010;

“Date of Adoption” means the date on which these Articles were adopted by the Company;

“Director(s)” means a director or directors of the Company from time to time;

“Effective Termination Date” means the date on which the Employee’s employment or consultancy terminates;

“electronic address” has the same meaning as in section 333 of the Act;

“electronic form” and “electronic means” have the same meaning as in section 1168 of the Act;

“Eligible Director” means a Director who would be entitled to vote on a matter had it been proposed as a resolution at a meeting of the Directors;

“Employee” means an individual who is employed by or who provides consultancy services to, the Company or any member of the Group;

“Employee Share Option Plan(s)” means the employee share option plan(s) of the Company in place at the Date of Adoption and any further plans provided the terms of such further plans have been approved by an Investor Majority;

“Employee Shares” in relation to an Employee means, save as set out below, all Ordinary Shares in the Company issued after 22 November 2011 and held by:

 

(a)

the Employee in question; and

 

3

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(b)

by any Permitted Transferee of that Employee other than those Ordinary Shares held by those persons that the Board acting with Investor Director Consent declares itself satisfied were not acquired directly or indirectly from the Employee or by reason of his relationship with the Employee

which definition shall for the avoidance of doubt not include Shares falling within any of the following classes, (i) Shares held prior to 22 November 2011 by any Employee (which shall include the Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and Founder Ordinary 2 Shares); and/or (ii) any shares acquired after 22 November 2011 which are derived from Shares held prior to 22 November 2011 pursuant to any Bonus Issue or Reorganisation; and/or (iii) any Shares acquired after 22 November 2011 for Fair Value or more; and/or (iv) any Shares acquired pursuant to options exercised under rights held under the Existing Option Plan where such rights were granted prior to 22 November 2011 (notwithstanding whether such option rights are exercised or exercisable at 22 November 2011 or the Effective Termination Date) (any such Shares as described in this subparagraph (iv) being “Existing Option Shares”);

“Encumbrance” means any mortgage, charge, security, interest, lien, pledge, assignment by way of security, equity, claim, right of pre-emption, option, covenant, restriction, reservation, lease, trust, order, decree, judgment, title defect (including without limitation any retention of title claim), conflicting claim of ownership or any other encumbrance of any nature whatsoever (whether or not perfected other than liens arising by operation of law);

“Equity Shares” means the Shares;

“Exercising Investor” means any Investor who exercises its rights to acquire Anti-Dilution Shares in accordance with Article 7.1;

“Existing Option Plan” means the option plan of the Company in place at the Date of Adoption providing for options over 12,136,364 Ordinary Shares;

“Existing Option Shares” means those Shares falling within subparagraph (iv) only of the classes of Shares which are excluded from the definition of “Employee Shares” and which, in relation to an Employee, would have been “Employee Shares” pursuant to the terms of that definition had they not been so excluded from that definition as set out in these Articles;

“Expert Valuer” is as determined in accordance with Article 13.2;

“Family Trusts” means as regards any particular individual member or deceased or former individual member, trusts (whether arising under a settlement, declaration of trust or other instrument by whomsoever or wheresoever made or under a testamentary disposition or on an intestacy) under which no immediate beneficial interest in any of the shares in question is for the time being vested in any person other than the individual and/or Privileged Relations of that individual; and so that for this purpose a person shall be considered to be beneficially interested in a share if such share or the income thereof is liable to be transferred or paid or applied or appointed to or for the benefit of such person

 

4

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or any voting or other rights attaching thereto are exercisable by or as directed by such person pursuant to the terms of the relevant trusts or in consequence of an exercise of a power or discretion conferred thereby on any person or persons;

“Fair Value” is as determined in accordance with Article 13.3;

“Financial Institution” any Financial Services Authority registered financial investor (or a financial investor registered with the equivalent body or authority in the country of the relevant financial investor’s principal place of business);

“Financial Year” and “Financial Period” means an accounting reference period (as defined by the Act) of the Company;

“Founder Ordinary 1 Shares” means the founder ordinary 1 shares of £0.01 each in the capital of the Company;

“Founder Ordinary 2 Shares” means the founder ordinary 2 shares of £0.01 each in the capital of the Company;

“Founder Ordinary 1 Shareholders” means the holders of the Founder Ordinary 1 Shares;

“Founder Ordinary 2 Shareholders” means the holders of the Founder Ordinary 2 Shares;

“Fund Manager” means a person whose principal business is to make, manage or advise upon investments in securities;

“Good Leaver” means a person who ceases to be an Employee (and who is not a Leaver or a Bad Leaver) where such cessation of employment, directorship or consultancy occurs in circumstances where the Employee has their contract of service or employment terminated by reason of any of:

 

(a)

death;

 

(b)

permanent incapacity;

 

(c)

without cause or otherwise in breach by the Company of the terms of their contract of service or employment or;

 

(d)

the Board, acting with Investor Director Consent, determines that such person should be a Good Leaver.

“Group” means the Company and its Subsidiary Undertaking(s) (if any) from time to time and “Group Company” shall be construed accordingly;

“hard copy form” has the same meaning as in section 1168 of the Act;

 

5

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“Holding Company” means a newly formed holding company, pursuant to which the membership, pro rata shareholdings and classes of shares comprised in such holding company matches that of the Company immediately prior to the transfer of the issued share capital of the Company to such holding company;

“Institutional Investor” means a fund, partnership, body corporate, trust or other person or entity whose principal business is to make investments or a person whose business is to make, manage or advise upon investments for any of the foregoing;

“Investment Agreement” means the investment agreement dated on or around the Date of Adoption between, amongst others, the Company and the Investors;

“Investors” means the subscribers of Series A Shares and Series B Shares prior to, on or around the Date of Adoption;

“Investor Director Consent” means the prior written consent of the majority of the Investor Directors and if any of Sofinnova Ventures, Sofinnova Partners or Morningside has not appointed an Investor Director, then the prior written consent of the Investor Directors who are appointed and if none of Sofinnova Ventures, Sofinnova Partners or Morningside has appointed an Investor Director, the consent of the Investor Majority in all cases such consent not to be unreasonably withheld;

“Investor Directors” means the directors of the Company nominated by Sofinnova Partners in terms of Article 24.1, by Sofinnova Ventures in terms of Article 24.2 and by Morningside in terms of Article 24.3 and “Investor Director” shall mean any one of them (as the context permits);

“Investor Fund Manager” means a Fund Manager which advises or manages an Investor;

“Investor Majority” means the consent of the holders of not less than (i) 60% of the Series A Shares; and (ii) 60% of the Series B Shares;

“Investor Majority Consent” means the prior written consent of the Investor Majority;

“IPO” means the admission of all or any of the Shares or securities representing those shares (including without limitation depositary interests, American depositary receipts, American depositary shares and/or other instruments) to or the grant of permission by any like authority for the same to be admitted to or traded or quoted on Nasdaq or the Official List of the United Kingdom Listing Authority or the AIM Market operated by the London Stock Exchange Plc or any other recognised investment exchange (as defined in section 285 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000);

“ITEPA” means Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003;

“Leaver” means a person who ceases to be an Employee at any time and who is not a Bad Leaver or a Good Leaver;

 

6

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“Lien Enforcement Notice” has the meaning given in Article 32.3;

“a Member of the same Fund Group” means if the Shareholder is a fund, partnership, company, syndicate or other entity whose business is managed by a Fund Manager (an “Investment Fund”) or a nominee of that person:

 

(a)

any participant or partner (including without limitation a limited partner) in or member of any such Investment Fund or the holders of any unit trust which is a participant or partner in or member of any Investment Fund (but only in connection with the dissolution of investment Fund or any distribution of assets of the Investment Fund pursuant to the operation of the Investment Fund in the ordinary course of business);

 

(b)

any Investment Fund managed or advised by that Fund Manager;

 

(c)

any Parent Undertaking or Subsidiary Undertaking of that Fund Manager, or any Subsidiary Undertaking of any Parent Undertaking of that Fund Manager; or

 

(d)

any trustee, nominee or custodian of such Investment Fund and vice versa;

“a Member of the same Group” means as regards any company, a company which is from time to time a Parent Undertaking or a Subsidiary Undertaking of that company or a Subsidiary Undertaking of any such Parent Undertaking;

“Morningside” means Morningside Venture Investments Limited a company having its place of business at c/o THC Management Services S.A.M., 2^nd Floor, Le Prince de Galles, 3-5 Avenue des Citronniers MC 98000, Monaco;

“Nasdaq” means the Nasdaq National Stock Market of the Nasdaq OMX Group Inc.;

“New Securities” means any shares or other securities convertible into, or carrying the right to subscribe for, shares issued by the Company after the Date of Adoption forming part of its equity share capital (as that term is defined in section 548 of the Act) other than (i) shares issued as a result of the events or pursuant to rights set out in Article 9.6; and/or (ii) for the purposes of Article 7 only any shares issued by way of a capitalisation issue or Bonus Issue or Reorganisation; which, in each case, shall not be New Securities;

“Offer” has the meaning set out in 16.2;

“Offer Period” has the meaning set out in Article 16.3;

“Ordinary Shareholders” means the holders from time to time of the Ordinary Shares provided that a member may hold Ordinary Shares, Series A Shares and Series B Shares and be defined as both an Investor and an Ordinary Shareholder;

“Ordinary Shares” means the ordinary shares of £0.01 each in the capital of the Company and such expression shall be deemed in these Articles (save in the case of Article 3.2 and 6) to include the Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and the Founder Ordinary 2 Shares;

 

7

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“Permitted Transfer” means a transfer of Shares in accordance with Article 11;

“Permitted Transferee” means:

 

(a)

in relation to a Shareholder who is an individual, any of his Privileged Relations or Trustees;

 

(b)

in relation to a Shareholder which is an undertaking (as defined in section 1161(1) of the Act) means any Member of the same Group;

 

(c)

in relation to a Shareholder which is an Investment Fund means any Member of the same Fund Group;

 

(d)

in relation to an Investor:

 

(i)

to any Member of the same Group;

 

(ii)

to any Member of the same Fund Group;

 

(iii)

to any other Investor;

 

(iv)

to any Financial Institution or institutional Investor;

 

(v)

or to any nominee of an Investor;

 

(e)

in relation to any member of the Scottish Enterprise Group any other member of the Scottish Enterprise Group;

 

(f)

in relation to any member of the Alida Group to any other member of the Alida Group provided that any member of the Alida Group who is an Employee may not while they remain an Employee reduce their holding of Shares below the holding they hold at the Date of Adoption under this provision; and

 

(g)

any trust settled by the Company for the purpose of Employee Share Option Plan(s), provided that both the trust and the transfer have been approved in writing by the Board of the Company and have received Investor Majority Consent, and any option holder holding options under the Employee Share Option Plan(s) over Shares held by such a trust.

“Priority Rights” means the rights of Shareholders to purchase Shares contained in a Transfer Notice in the priority stipulated in Article 12.6 or Article 15.2 (as the case may be);

“Privileged Relation” in relation to a Shareholder who is an individual member or deceased or former member means a spouse, Civil Partner, child or grandchild (including step or adopted or illegitimate child and their issue);

 

8

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“Proposed Purchaser” means a proposed purchaser who at the relevant time has made an offer on arm’s length terms and who is not a Permitted Transferee of a Shareholder;

“Proposed Sale Date” has the meaning given in Article 16.3;

“Proposed Sale Notice” has the meaning given in Article 16.3;

“Proposed Sale Shares” has the meaning given in Article 16.3;

“Proposed Seller” means any person proposing to transfer any shares in the capital of the Company;

“Proposed Transfer” has the meaning given in Article 16.1;

“Qualifying Person” has the meaning given in section 318(3) of the Act;

“Relevant Interest” has the meaning set out in Article 27.5;

“Relevant Period” means 36 months from the Commencement Date;

“Sale Shares” has the meaning set out in Article 12.2(a) of these Articles;

“Scottish Enterprise” means Scottish Enterprise, established under the Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990 and having its principal place of business at Atrium Court, 50 Waterloo Street, Glasgow, G2 6HQ;

“Scottish Enterprise Group” means Scottish Enterprise, any subsidiary for the time being of Scottish Enterprise and any company, corporation or other body of persons which shall have acquired the whole or substantially the whole of the undertaking of Scottish Enterprise or any subsidiary of such company, corporation or body and any other body to which the statutory functions of Scottish Enterprise have been transferred or delegated or a Scottish Enterprise Successor and the expression “member of the Scottish Enterprise Group” shall be construed accordingly; and

“Scottish Enterprise Successor” means any party succeeding in whole or in part to the interest of Scottish Enterprise;

“Seller” has the meaning set out in Article 12.2 of these Articles;

“Series A Shares” means the series A Convertible Participating Shares of £0.01 each in the capital of the Company;

“Series B Shares” means the series B Convertible Participating Shares of £0.001 each in the capital of the Company;

“Series A Shareholders” means the holders of the Series A Shares;

“Series B Shareholders” means the holders of the Series B Shares;

 

9

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“Shareholder” means any holder of any Shares;

“Shares” means the Ordinary Shares, the Series A Shares and the Series B Shares from time to time;

“Sofinnova Partners” means Sofinnova Capital VI FCPR, a French venture capital fund represented by its management company, Sofinnova Partners SAS, organised and existing under the laws of France, with registered office at Le Centorial, 16-18 rue du 4 Septembre – 75002 Paris;

“Sofinnova Ventures” means Sofinnova Venture Partners VIII, L.P. a limited partnership whose general partner is Sofinnova Management VIII, L.L.C.;

“Starting Price” means £1 (if applicable, adjusted as referred to in Article 7.3) in respect of each Series B Share;

“Subsidiary”, “Subsidiary Undertaking” and “Parent Undertaking” have the respective meanings set out in sections 1159 and 1162 of the Act;

“Transfer Notice” shall have the meaning given in Article 12.2;

“Transfer Price” shall have the meaning given in Article 12.2(c); and

“Trustees” in relation to a Shareholder means the trustee or the trustees of a Family Trust;

 

3.	Share capital

 

3.1

In these Articles, unless the context requires otherwise, references to shares of a particular class shall include shares allotted and/or issued after the Date of Adoption and ranking pari passu in all respects (or in all respects except only as to the date from which those shares rank for dividend) with the shares of the relevant class then in issue.

 

3.2

Except as otherwise provided in these Articles, the Series A Shares, the Series B Shares, the Founder Ordinary 1 Shares, the Founder Ordinary 2 Shares and the Ordinary Shares (the term Ordinary Shares shall for the purposes of this Article 3.2 exclude the Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and the Founder Ordinary 2 Shares) shall rank pari passu in all respects but shall constitute separate classes of shares.

 

3.3

Whenever as a result of a consolidation of Shares any Shareholders would become entitled to fractions of a Share, the Directors may, on behalf of those Shareholders, sell the Shares representing the fractions for the best price reasonably obtainable to any person (including, subject to the provisions of the Act, the Company) and distribute the net proceeds of sale in due proportion among those Shareholders, and the Directors may authorise any person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Shares to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The transferee shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity in or invalidity of the proceedings in reference to the sale.

 

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3.4

When the Company sub-divides or consolidates all or any of its Shares, the Company may, subject to the Act and to these Articles, by ordinary resolution determine that, as between the Shares resulting from the sub-division or consolidation, any of them may have any preference or advantage or be subject to any restriction as compared with the others.

 

3.5	The words “and the directors may determine the terms, conditions and manner of redemption of any such shares” shall be deleted from article 22(2) of the Model Articles.

 

3.6	Paragraph (c) of article 24(2) of the Model Articles shall be amended by the replacement of the words “that the shares are fully paid; and” with the words “the amount paid up on them; and”.

 

3.7	In article 25(2) of the Model Articles, the words “payment of a reasonable fee as the directors decide” in paragraph (c) shall be deleted and replaced by the words “payment of the expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in investigating evidence as the directors may determine”.

 

4.

Dividends

 

4.1	In respect of any Financial Year, the Company’s Available Profits will be applied as determined by the Board, acting with the Investor Director Consent.

 

4.2	Subject to the Act and these Articles, the Board may, provided Investor Majority Consent is given, pay interim dividends if justified by the Available Profits in respect of the relevant period.

 

5.	Votes in general meeting

 

5.1	The Series A Shares shall confer on each holder of Series A Shares the right to receive notice of and to attend, speak and vote at all general meetings of the Company and to receive and vote on proposed written resolutions of the Company.

 

5.2	The Series B Shares shall confer on each holder of Series B Shares the right to receive notice of and to attend, speak and vote at all general meetings of the Company and to receive and vote on proposed written resolutions of the Company.

 

5.3	The Ordinary Shares shall confer on each holder of Ordinary Shares the right to receive notice of and to attend, speak and vote at all general meetings of the Company and to receive and vote on proposed written resolutions of the Company.

 

5.4

Subject to Article 5.5 where Shares confer a right to vote, on a show of hands each holder of such shares who (being an individual) is present in person or by proxy or (being a corporation) is present by a duly authorised representative or by proxy shall have one vote and on a poll each such holder so present shall have one vote for each Share held by him.

 

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5.5	Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles:

 

•

the Founder Ordinary 1 Shares shall upon a poll as a class confer upon the holders thereof such number of votes which equals at least 5% of all votes exercisable by all holders of Shares; and

 

•

the Founder Ordinary 2 Shares shall upon a poll as a class confer upon the holders thereof such number of votes which equals at least 5% of all votes exercisable by all holders of Shares.

 

6.	Conversion of Series A Shares, Series B Shares, Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and Founder Ordinary 2 Shares

 

6.1

Any holder of Series A Shares, Series B Shares, Founder Ordinary 1 Shares or Founder Ordinary 2 Shares shall be entitled, by notice in writing to the Company, to require conversion into Ordinary Shares of all of the Series A Shares, Series B Shares, Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and/or Founder Ordinary 2 Shares held by them at any time and those shares shall convert automatically on the date of such notice (the “Conversion Date”). The holder may in such notice, state that conversion of its Series A Shares, Series B Shares, Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and/or Founder Ordinary 2 Shares into Ordinary Shares is conditional upon the occurrence of particular events (the “Conditions”).

 

6.2

All of the Series A Shares, Series B Shares, Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and Founder Ordinary 2 Shares shall automatically convert into Ordinary Shares immediately upon the occurrence of an IPO or, (i) in respect of the Series A Shares only, at the request of the holders of not less than 60% of the issued Series A Shares; (ii) in respect of the Series B Shares only, at the request of the holders of not less than 60% of the issued Series B Shares; (iii) in respect of the Founder Ordinary 1 Shares only, at the request of the holders of not less than 60% of the issued Founder Ordinary 1 Shares; and (iv) in respect of the Founder Ordinary 2 Shares only, at the request of the holders of not less than 60% of the issued Founder Ordinary 2 Shares.

 

6.3

In the case of (i) Article 6.1, at least five Business Days after the Conversion Date or (ii) in the case of Article 6.2, at least five Business Days prior to the occurrence of the IPO or relevant request being made, each holder of the relevant shares to be converted shall deliver the certificate (or an indemnity in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Board in respect of any lost certificate(s)) in respect of the shares being converted for such shares to the Company at its registered office for the time being.

 

6.4

Where conversion is mandatory on the occurrence of a IPO, that conversion will be effective only immediately prior to such IPO (and “Conversion Date” shall be construed accordingly) and, if such IPO does not become effective or does not take place, such conversion shall be deemed not to have occurred. In the event of a conversion under Article 6.1, if the Conditions have not been satisfied or waived by the relevant holder by the Conversion Date such conversion shall be deemed not to have occurred.

 

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6.5

On the Conversion Date, the relevant Series A Shares, Series B Shares, Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and/or Founder Ordinary 2 Shares shall without further authority than is contained in these Articles stand converted into Ordinary Shares on the basis of one Ordinary Share for each Series A Share, one Ordinary Share for each Series B Share, one Ordinary Share for each Founder Ordinary 1 Share and one Ordinary Share for each Founder Ordinary 2 Share (the “Conversion Ratio”) held and the Ordinary Shares resulting from that conversion shall in all other respects rank pari passu with the existing issued Ordinary Shares.

 

6.6

Where Series B Shares with a nominal value of £0.001 are being converted into Ordinary Shares with a nominal value of £0.01 (on the basis of one Ordinary Share for each Series B Share) the unpaid nominal value on each Ordinary Share arising from such conversion shall be satisfied by the automatic capitalisation of available reserves of the Company.

 

6.7	The Conversion Ratio shall from time to time be adjusted in accordance with the provisions of this Article:

 

(a)

if Series A Shares, Series B Shares, Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and/or Founder Ordinary 2 Shares remain capable of being converted into new Ordinary Shares and there is a consolidation and/or sub-division of Ordinary Shares with no like consolidation and/or sub-division of the Series A Shares, Series B Shares, Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and/or Founder Ordinary 2 Shares, the Conversion Ratio shall be adjusted by an amount, which in the opinion of the Board (with Investor Majority Consent) is fair and reasonable, to maintain the right to convert so as to ensure that each Series A Shareholder, Series B Shareholder, Founder Ordinary 1 Shareholder and/or Founder Ordinary 2 Shareholder is in no better or worse position as a result of such consolidation or sub-division, such adjustment to become effective immediately after such consolidation or sub-division;

 

(b)

if Series A Shares, Series B Shares, Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and/or Founder Ordinary 2 Shares remain capable of being converted into Ordinary Shares, on an allotment of fully-paid Ordinary Shares pursuant to a capitalisation of profits or reserves to holders of Ordinary Shares with no like allotment of fully-paid Shares pursuant to a capitalisation of profits or reserves to the holders of the Series A Shares, Series B Shares, Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and/or Founder Ordinary 2 Shares, the Conversion Ratio shall be adjusted by an amount, which in the opinion of the Board (with Investor Majority Consent) is fair and reasonable, to maintain the right to convert so as to ensure that each Series A Shareholder, Series B Shareholder, Founder Ordinary 1 Shareholder and/or Founder Ordinary 2 Shareholder is in no better or worse position as a result of such capitalisation of profits or reserves, such adjustment to become effective as at the record date for such issue.

 

6.8

If any Series A Shareholder, Series B Shareholder, Founder Ordinary 1 Shareholder and/or Founder Ordinary 2 Shareholder becomes entitled to fractions of an Ordinary Share as a result of conversion (“Fractional Holders”), the Directors may (in their absolute discretion) deal with these fractions as they think fit on behalf of the Fractional

 

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Holders. In particular, the Directors may aggregate and sell the fractions to a person for the best price reasonably obtainable and distribute the net proceeds of sale in due proportions among the Fractional Holders or may ignore fractions or accrue the benefit of such fractions to the Company rather than the member. For the purposes of completing any such sale of fractions, the chairman of the Company or, failing him, the secretary will be deemed to have been appointed the Fractional Holder’s agent for the purpose of the sale.

 

6.9

If a doubt or dispute arises concerning an adjustment of the Conversion Ratio in accordance with Article 6.7, or if so requested by an Investor Majority, the Board shall refer the matter to the Auditors for determination who shall make available to all Shareholders their report and whose certificate as to the amount of the adjustment is, in the absence of manifest error, conclusive and binding on all concerned and their costs shall be met by the Company.

 

6.10

The Company shall on the Conversion Date enter the holder of the converted Series A Shares, Series B Shares, Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and/or Founder Ordinary 2 Shares on the register of members of the Company as the holder of the appropriate number of Ordinary Shares and, subject to the relevant holder delivering its certificate(s) (or indemnity) in respect of the Series A Shares, Series B Shares, Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and/or Founder Ordinary 2 Shares in accordance with this Article, the Company shall within 10 Business Days of the Conversion Date forward to such holder of Series A Shares, Series B Shares, Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and/or Founder Ordinary 2 Shares by post to his address shown in the register of members, free of charge, a definitive certificate for the appropriate number of fully paid Ordinary Shares.

 

7.	Anti-Dilution protection

 

7.1

If New Securities which are Shares are issued by the Company at a subscription price per New Security which equates to less than the Starting Price (a “Qualifying Issue”) (which in the event that the New Security is not issued for cash shall be a price certified by the Auditors acting as experts and not as arbitrators as being in their opinion the current cash value of the consideration for the allotment of the New Securities) then the Company shall, unless and to the extent that any of the holders of Series B Shares shall have specifically waived their rights under this Article in writing, offer (such offer, unless waived, to remain open for acceptance for not less than 15 Business Days) to each holder of Series B Shares (the “Exercising Investor”) the right to receive a number of new Series B Shares determined by applying the following formula (and rounding the product, N, down to the nearest whole share), subject to adjustment as certified in accordance with Article 7.3 (the “Anti-Dilution Shares”):

N = ((PIP/WA) x Z) - Z

Where:

 

N:

the number of Anti-Dilution Shares to be issued to the Exercising Investor.

 

DRP:

the price per share of the Qualifying Issue.

 

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NS:

the number of New Securities issued pursuant to the Qualifying Issue.

 

PIP:

the Starting Price.

 

SC:

the number of shares in issue plus the aggregate number of shares in respect of which options to subscribe have been granted, or which are subject to convertible securities (including, but not limited to, warrants), in each case immediately prior to the Qualifying Issue.

 

WA:

(PIP x SC) + (DRP x NS)/ (SC + NS).

 

Z:

the number of Series B Shares held by the Exercising Investor before the Qualifying Issue.

 

7.2	The Anti-Dilution Shares shall:

 

(a)

be paid up by the automatic capitalisation of available reserves of the Company, unless and to the extent that the same shall be impossible or unlawful or a majority of the Exercising Investors shall agree otherwise, in which event the Exercising Investors shall be entitled to subscribe for the Anti-Dilution Shares in cash at par (being the par value approved in advance by the Board and the Investor Directors) and the entitlement of such Exercising Investors to Anti-Dilution Shares shall be increased by adjustment to the formula set out in Article 7.1 so that the Exercising Investors shall be in no worse position than if they had not so subscribed at par. In the event of any dispute between the Company and any Exercising Investor as to the effect of Article 7.1 or this Article 7.2, the matter shall be referred (at the cost of the parties as directed by the Auditor) to the Auditors for certification of the number of Anti-Dilution Shares to be issued. The Auditor’s certification of the matter shall in the absence of manifest error be final and binding on the Company and the Exercising Investor; and

 

(b)

subject to the payment of any cash payable pursuant to Article 7.2(a) (if applicable), be issued, credited fully paid up in cash and shall rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Equity Shares, within five Business Days of the expiry of the offer being made by the Company to the Exercising Investor and pursuant to Article 7.2(a).

 

7.3

In the event of any Bonus Issue or Reorganisation, the Starting Price shall also be subject to adjustment on such basis as may be agreed by the Company with the Investor Majority both acting reasonably and in good faith within 10 Business Days after any Bonus Issue or Reorganisation. If the Company and the Investor Majority cannot agree such adjustment it shall be referred to the Auditors whose determination shall, in the absence of manifest error, be final and binding on the Company and each of its Shareholders. The costs of the Auditors shall be borne by the Company.

 

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8.	Variation of rights

 

8.1

Whenever the share capital of the Company is divided into different classes of shares, the special rights attached to any such class may only be varied or abrogated (either whilst the Company is a going concern or during or in contemplation of a winding-up) with the consent in writing of the holders of more than 65% in nominal value of the issued shares of that class save that the special rights attaching to the Series A Shares and Series B Shares may only be varied or abrogated with Investor Majority Consent.

 

8.2	Without prejudice to the generality of Article 8.1, the special rights attaching to the Series A Shares, the Series B Shares and the Ordinary Shares shall be deemed to be varied by the occurrence of the following events:

 

(a)

the amendment or repeal of any provision of, or addition of any provision to the Articles;

 

(b)

the alteration of the authorised or issued share capital of the Company or creation of any securities other than as referred to in Article 9.6;

 

(c)

the reduction of the amount standing to the credit of the share premium account or capital redemption reserve other than as expressly provided for in these Articles;

 

(d)

the approval of any merger, liquidation, dissolution or acquisition of the Company or sale of all or a substantial part of the business, undertaking or assets of the Company;

 

(e)

the purchase by the Company of any Shares;

 

(f)

the acquisition of any shares or other securities;

 

(g)

the making of any bonus issue of shares or debenture stock;

 

(h)

the entering into of a voluntary winding-up;

 

(i)

the transferring of any profits to reserves or otherwise (save in the ordinary course of business) and the taking of any action (excluding payment of dividends) which will raise or may reduce the amount of the profits of the Company available for distribution;

 

(j)

any member of the Group doing any of the events described in paragraphs (a) to (i) above;

 

(k)

the Company or a member of the Group incurring any obligation to do any of the events described in paragraphs (a) to (i) above;

 

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8.3	No voting rights attached to a share which is nil paid may be exercised:

 

(a)

at any general meeting, at any adjournment of it or at any poll called at or in relation to it; or

 

(b)

on any proposed written resolution,

 

unless all or some of the amounts payable to the Company in respect of that share have been paid.

 

9.	Allotment of new shares or other securities: pre-emption

 

9.1	Subject to the remaining provisions of this Article 9 and Article 8, the Directors are generally and unconditionally authorised for the purpose of section 551 of the Act to exercise any power of the Company to:

 

(a)

allot Shares; or

 

(b)

grant rights to subscribe for or convert any securities into Shares,

 

to any persons, at any times and subject to any terms and conditions as the Directors think proper, provided that:

 

(1)

this authority shall be limited to £760,769.20 in nominal value of shares including issued share capital of the Company immediately following the Date of Adoption;

 

(2)

this authority shall only apply insofar as the Company in general meeting has not waived or revoked it;

 

(3)

this authority may only be exercised for a period of five years commencing upon the Date of Adoption, save that the Directors may make an offer or agreement which would or might require Shares to be allotted or rights granted to subscribe for or convert any security into Shares after the expiry of such authority (and the Directors may allot Shares or grant such rights in pursuance of an offer or agreement as if such authority had not expired).

 

9.2	In accordance with sections 567(1) and/or 570 of the Act, sections 561(1) and 562(1) to (5) (inclusive) of the Act do not apply to an allotment of equity securities made by the Company.

 

9.3

Unless otherwise agreed by special resolution of each class of Share passed in general meeting or as a written resolution of each class passed in accordance with part 13 of the Act (provided that the disapplication and/or waiver of any rights of pre-emption held by any member of the Scottish Enterprise Group under this Article 9.3 shall require their written consent), if the Company proposes to allot any New Securities those New Securities shall not be allotted to any person unless the Company has in the first instance offered them to the holders of Equity Shares on the same terms and at the same price as those New Securities are being offered to other persons on a pari passu and pro rata basis to the number of Shares held by those holders (as nearly as may be without involving fractions). The offer:

 

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(a)

shall be in writing, give details of the number and subscription price of the New Securities; and

 

(b)

may stipulate that any Shareholder who wishes to subscribe for a number of New Securities in excess of the proportion to which each is entitled shall in their acceptance state the number of excess New Securities (“Excess Securities”) for which they wish to subscribe.

 

9.4

Any New Securities not accepted by Shareholders pursuant to the offer made to them in accordance with Article 9.3 shall be used for satisfying any requests for Excess Securities made pursuant to Article 9.3 in the first instance in relation to requests made by members holding Shares of the same class as the non accepting member and thereafter any remaining surplus, if any, to members holding Shares of a different class to the non accepting member and in the event that there are insufficient Excess Securities to satisfy such requests, the Excess Securities shall be allotted to the applicants on a pro rata basis to the number of the relevant class of Shares held by the applicants immediately prior to the offer made to Shareholders in accordance with Article 9.3 (as nearly as may be without involving fractions or increasing the number allotted to any Shareholder beyond that applied for by him) and after that allotment, any Excess Securities remaining shall be offered, subject to Article 9.5, to any other person as the Directors may determine at the same price and on the same terms as the offer to the Shareholders.

 

9.5	Subject to Articles 9.3 and 9.4 and to the provisions of section 551 of the Act, any New Securities shall be at the disposal of the Board who may allot, grant options over or otherwise dispose of them to any persons at those times and generally on the terms and conditions they think proper.

 

9.6	The provisions of Articles 9.3 to 9.5 shall not apply to:

 

(a)

options to subscribe for Shares under the Employee Share Option Plans or any Shares issued thereunder;

 

(b)

New Securities issued or granted in order for the Company to comply with its obligations under these Articles including, but not limited to the Anti-Dilution Shares;

 

(c)

New Securities issued as a result of a bonus issue of shares which has been approved in writing by an Investor Majority; and

 

(d)

Shares or options for Shares issued or granted to the Investors in accordance with the terms of the Investment Agreement.

 

9.7	No Shares shall be allotted to any Employee, Director, prospective Employee or prospective director of the Company unless such person has entered into a joint section 431 ITEPA election with the Company.

 

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10.	Transfers of Shares – general

 

10.1	In Articles 10 to 18 inclusive, reference to the transfer of a Share includes the transfer or assignment of a beneficial or other interest in that Share or the creation of a trust or Encumbrance over that Share and reference to a Share includes a beneficial or other interest in a Share.

 

10.2	No Share may be transferred unless the transfer is made in accordance with these Articles.

 

10.3	If a Shareholder transfers or purports to transfer a Share otherwise than in accordance with these Articles he will be deemed immediately to have served a Transfer Notice in respect of all Shares held by him.

 

10.4	Any transfer of a Share by way of sale which is required to be made under Articles 12 to 18 (inclusive) will be deemed to include a warranty that the transferor sells with full title guarantee.

 

10.5	The Directors may refuse to register a transfer if:

 

(a)

it is a transfer of a Share to a bankrupt, a minor or a person of unsound mind;

 

(b)

the transfer is to an Employee, Director or prospective Employee or prospective director of the Company and such person has not entered in a joint section 431 ITEPA election with the Company;

 

(c)

it is a transfer of a Share which is not fully paid:

 

(i)

to a person of whom the Directors do not approve; or

 

(ii)

on which Share the Company has a lien;

 

(d)

the transfer is not lodged at the registered office or at such other place as the Directors may appoint;

 

(e)

the transfer is not accompanied by the certificate for the Shares to which it relates and such other evidence as the Directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer;

 

(f)

the transfer is in respect of more than one class of Shares; or

 

(g)

the transfer is in favour of more than four transferees.

 

If the Directors refuse to register a transfer, the instrument of transfer must be returned to the transferee with the notice of refusal unless they suspect that the proposed transfer may be fraudulent.

 

10.6	The Directors may, as a condition to the registration of any transfer of shares in the Company (whether pursuant to a Permitted Transfer or otherwise), require the transferee

 

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to execute and deliver to the Company a deed agreeing to be bound by the terms of the Investment Agreement or any other shareholders’ agreement or similar document in force between some or all of the Shareholders and the Company in any form as the Directors may reasonably require (but not so as to oblige the transferee to have any obligations or liabilities greater than those of the proposed transferor under any such agreement or other document) and if any condition is imposed in accordance with this Article 10.6 the transfer may not be registered unless that deed has been executed and delivered to the Company’s registered office by the transferee.

 

10.7

To enable the Directors to determine whether or not there has been any disposal of shares in the capital of the Company (or any interest in shares in the capital of the Company) in breach of these Articles the Directors may require any holder or the legal personal representatives of any deceased holder or any person named as transferee in any transfer lodged for registration or any other person who the Directors or the Investor Directors may reasonably believe to have information relevant to that purpose, to furnish to the Company that information and evidence the Directors may request regarding any matter which they deem relevant to that purpose, including (but not limited to) the names, addresses and interests of all persons respectively having interests in the shares in the capital of the Company from time to time registered in the holder’s name. If the information or evidence is not provided to enable the Directors to determine to their reasonable satisfaction that no breach has occurred, or where as a result of the information and evidence the Directors are reasonably satisfied that a breach has occurred, the Directors shall immediately notify the holder of such shares in the capital of the Company in writing of that fact and the following shall occur:

 

(a)

the relevant shares shall cease to confer upon the holder of them (including any proxy appointed by the holder) any rights:

 

(i)

to vote (whether on a show of hands or on a poll and whether exercisable at a general meeting or on a written resolution of the Company or at any separate meeting or written resolution of the class in question) provided that such rights shall not cease if as a result of such cessation the Company shall become a Subsidiary of an Investor; or

 

(ii)

to receive dividends or other distributions (other than the amount they may be entitled to pursuant to the application of Article 4.2) otherwise attaching to those shares or to any further shares issued in respect of those shares; and

 

(b)

the holder may be required at any time following receipt of the notice to transfer some or all of its Shares to any person(s) at the price representing Fair Value for such Shares.

 

The rights referred to in (a) above may be reinstated by the Board subject to Investor Director Consent and shall in any event be reinstated upon the completion of any transfer referred to in (b) above.

 

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10.8

In any case where the Board requires a Transfer Notice to be given in respect of any Shares, if a Transfer Notice is not duly given within a period of 10 Business Days of demand being made, a Transfer Notice shall be deemed to have been given at the expiration of that period. If a Transfer Notice is required to be given or is deemed to have been given under these Articles, the Transfer Notice will be treated as having specified that:

 

(a)

the Transfer Price for the Sale Shares will be as agreed between the Board (any director with whom the Seller is connected (within the meaning of section 252 of the Act) not voting) and the Seller, or, failing agreement within five Business Days after the date on which the Board becomes aware that a Transfer Notice has been deemed to have been given, will be the Fair Value of the Sale Shares;

 

(b)

it does not include a Minimum Transfer Condition (as defined in Article 12.2(d)); and

 

(c)

the Seller wishes to transfer all of the Shares held by it.

 

10.9	Shares may be transferred by means of an instrument of transfer in any usual form or any other form approved by the directors, which is executed by or on behalf of:

 

(a)

the transferor; and

 

(b)

(if any of the shares is partly or nil paid) the transferee.

 

11.	Permitted Transfers

 

11.1	A Shareholder (the “Original Shareholder”) may transfer all or any of his or its Shares to a Permitted Transferee and/or on and following an IPO (subject to any agreed upon lock-up) without restriction as to price or otherwise.

 

11.2

Where under the provision of a deceased Shareholder’s will or laws as to intestacy, the persons legally or beneficially entitled to any Shares, whether immediately or contingently, are Permitted Transferees of the deceased Shareholder, the legal representative of the deceased Shareholder may transfer any Share to those Permitted Transferees, in each case without restriction as to price or otherwise. Shares previously transferred as permitted by this Article 11.2 may be transferred by the transferee to any other Permitted Transferee of the Original Shareholder without restriction as to price or otherwise.

 

11.3

If a Permitted Transferee who was a Member of the same Group as the Original Shareholder ceases to be a Member of the same Group as the Original Shareholder, the Permitted Transferee must not later than five Business Days after the date on which the Permitted Transferee so ceases, transfer the Shares held by it to the Original Shareholder or a Member of the same Group as the Original Shareholder (which in either case is not in liquidation) without restriction as to price or otherwise failing which it will be deemed to have given a Transfer Notice in respect of those Shares.

 

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11.4

If a Permitted Transferee who was a Member of the same Fund Group as the Original Shareholder ceases to be a Member of the same Fund Group, the Permitted Transferee must not later than five Business Days after the date on which the Permitted Transferee so ceases, transfer the Shares held by it to the Original Shareholder or a Member of the same Fund Group as the Original Shareholder (which in either case is not in liquidation) without restriction as to price or otherwise failing which it will be deemed to give a Transfer Notice in respect of such Shares.

 

11.5

Trustees may (i) transfer Shares to a company in which they hold the whole of the share capital and which they control (a “Qualifying Company”) or (ii) transfer Shares to the Original Shareholder or to another Permitted Transferee of the Original Shareholder or (iii) transfer Shares to the new or remaining trustees upon a change of Trustees without restrictions as to price or otherwise.

 

11.6	No transfer of Shares may be made to Trustees unless the Board is satisfied:

 

(a)

with the terms of the trust instrument and in particular with the powers of the trustees;

 

(b)

with the identity of the proposed trustees;

 

(c)

the proposed transfer will not result in 50% or more of the aggregate of the Company’s equity share capital being held by trustees of that and any other trusts; and

 

(d)

that no costs incurred in connection with the setting up or administration of the Family Trust in question are to be paid by the Company.

 

11.7

If a company to which a Share has been transferred under Article 11.5, ceases to be a Qualifying Company it must within five Business Days of so ceasing, transfer the Shares held by it to the Trustees or to a Qualifying Company (any may do so without restriction as to price or otherwise) failing which it will be deemed to have given a Transfer Notice in respect of such Shares.

 

11.8	If a Permitted Transferee who is a spouse or Civil Partner of the Original Shareholder ceases to be a spouse or Civil Partner of the Original Shareholder whether by reason of divorce or otherwise he must, within 15 Business Days of so ceasing either:

 

(a)

execute and deliver to the Company a transfer of the Shares held by him to the Original Shareholder (or, to any Permitted Transferee of the Original Shareholder) for such consideration as may be agreed between them; or

 

(b)

give a Transfer Notice to the Company in accordance with Article 12.2, failing which he shall be deemed to have given a Transfer Notice.

 

11.9	On the death (subject to Article 11.2), bankruptcy, liquidation, administrator or administrative receivership of a Permitted Transferee (other than a joint holder) his personal representatives or trustee in bankruptcy, or its liquidator, administrator or

 

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administrative receiver must within five Business Days after the date of the grant of probate, the making of the bankruptcy order or the appointment of the liquidator, administrator or the administrative receiver execute and deliver to the Company a transfer of the Shares held by the Permitted Transferee without restriction as to price or otherwise. The transfer shall be to the Original Shareholder if still living (and not bankrupt or in liquidation) or, if so directed by the Original Shareholder, to any Permitted Transferee of the Original Shareholder. If the transfer is not executed and delivered within five Business Days of such period or if the Original Shareholder has died or is bankrupt or is in liquidation, administration or administrative receivership, the personal representative or trustee in bankruptcy or liquidator, administrator or administrative receiver will be deemed to have given a Transfer Notice.

 

11.10

Any Shares may at any time be transferred to a new Holding Company where there is a sale of the entire issued share capital of the Company to a Holding Company, which has been approved by a majority of the Board, including Investor Director Consent and on such sale the transferors receive share capital in the Holding Company as consideration.

 

12.	Transfers of Shares subject to pre-emption rights

 

12.1	Save where the provisions of Articles 11, 16 and/or 18 apply, any transfer of Shares by a Shareholder shall be subject to the pre-emption rights contained in this Article 12.

 

12.2	A Shareholder who wishes to transfer Shares (a “Seller”) shall, except as otherwise provided in these Articles, before transferring or agreeing to transfer any Shares give notice in writing (a “Transfer Notice”) to the Company specifying:

 

(a)

the number of Shares which he wishes to transfer (the “Sale Shares”);

 

(b)

if he wishes to sell the Sale Shares to a third party, the name of the proposed transferee;

 

(c)

the price (in cash) at which he wishes to transfer the Sale Shares (which will be deemed to be Fair Value of the Sale Shares if no cash price is agreed between the Seller and the Board (including the Investor Directors) (the “Transfer Price”); and

 

(d)

whether the Transfer Notice is conditional on all or a specific number of the Sale Shares being sold to Shareholders ( a “Minimum Transfer Condition”).

 

12.3	Except with the written consent of the Board acting by majority, no Transfer Notice once given or deemed to have been given under these Articles may be withdrawn.

 

12.4	A Transfer Notice constitutes the Company the agent of the Seller for the sale of the Sale Shares at the Transfer Price.

 

12.5	As soon as practicable following the later of:

 

(a)

receipt of a Transfer Notice; and

 

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(b)

in the case where the Transfer Price has not been specified or the Transfer Notice is deemed to have been served, the determination of the Transfer Price under Article 13,

 

the Board shall offer the Sale Shares for sale to the Shareholders in the manner set out in Articles 12.6 to 12.8. Each offer must be in writing and give details of the number and Transfer Price of the Sale Shares offered.

 

12.6	Priority for offer of Sale Shares

 

(a)

If the Sale Shares are Series A Shares, the Sale Shares shall offered in the following priority:

 

(i)

first, to the Series A Shareholders;

 

(ii)

second, to the Series B Shareholders;

 

(iii)

third to the Ordinary Shareholders; and

 

(iv)

fourth as the Board shall determine, acting with Investor Director Consent, in each case on the basis as set out in Article 12.7.

 

(b)

If the Sale Shares are Series B Shares, the Sale Shares shall offered in the following priority:

 

(i)

first, to the Series B Shareholders;

 

(ii)

second, to the Series A Shareholders;

 

(iii)

third to the Ordinary Shareholders; and

 

(iv)

fourth as the Board shall determine, acting with Investor Director Consent, in each case on the basis as set out in Article 12.7.

 

(c)

If the Sale Shares are Ordinary Shares, the Sale Shares shall be offered in the following priority:

 

(i)

first, to the Ordinary Shareholders;

 

(ii)

second to the Series A Shareholders and Series B Shareholders; and

 

(iii)

third as the Board shall determine, acting with Investor Director Consent, in each case on the basis as set out in Article 12.7.

 

12.7	Transfers: First Offer

 

(a)

The Board shall offer the Sale Shares pursuant to the Priority Rights to all shareholders specified in the offer other than the Seller (the “Continuing Shareholders”) inviting them to apply in writing within the period from the date of the offer to the date 15 Business Days after the offer (inclusive) (the “First Offer Period”) for the maximum number of Sale Shares they wish to buy.

 

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(b)

If the Sale Shares are subject to a Minimum Transfer Condition then any allocation made under Articles 12.7 and 12.8 will be conditional on the fulfilment of the Minimum Transfer Condition.

 

(c)

If, at the end of the First Offer Period, the number of Sale Shares applied for is equal to or exceeds the number of Sale Shares, the Board shall allocate the Sale Shares to each Continuing Shareholder in the proportion (fractional entitlements being rounded to the nearest whole number) which his existing holding of the relevant class of Shares bears to the total number of the relevant class of Shares held by those Continuing Shareholders who have applied for Sale Shares but no allocation shall be made to a Shareholder of more than the maximum number of Sale Shares which he has stated he is willing to buy.

 

(d)

If not all Sale Shares are allocated in accordance with Article 12.7(c) but there are applications for Sale Shares that have not been satisfied those Sale Shares shall be allocated to the relevant applicant(s) in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 12.7(c).

 

(e)

If, at the end of the First Offer Period, the number of Sale Shares applied for is less than the number of Sale Shares, the Board shall allocate the Sale Shares to the Continuing Shareholders in accordance with their applications and the balance (the “Initial Surplus Shares”) will be dealt with in accordance with Article 12.8.

 

12.8	Transfers: Second Offer

 

(a)

At the end of the First Offer Period, the Board shall offer the Initial Surplus Shares to all the Continuing Shareholders inviting them to apply in writing within the period from the date of the offer to the date 15 Business Days after the date of the offer (inclusive) (the “Second Offer Period”) for the maximum number of the Initial Surplus Shares they wish to buy.

 

(b)

If, at the end of the Second Offer Period, the number of Initial Surplus Shares applied for exceeds the number of Initial Surplus Shares, the Board shall allocate the remaining Initial Surplus Shares to each Continuing Shareholder in the proportion (fractional entitlements being rounded to the nearest whole number) which his existing holding of Shares bears to the total number of Shares (including Sale Shares) held by those Continuing Shareholders who have applied during the Second Offer Period for Initial Surplus Shares but no allocation shall be made to a Shareholder of more than the maximum number of Initial Surplus Shares which he has stated he is willing to buy.

 

(c)

If, at the end of the Second Offer Period, the number of Initial Surplus Shares applied for is less than the number of Initial Surplus Shares, the Board shall allocate the Initial Surplus Shares to the Continuing Shareholders in accordance with their applications and the balance (the “Second Surplus Shares”) will be offered to any other person in accordance with Article 12.9(e).

 

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12.9	Completion of transfer of Sale Shares

 

(a)

If the Transfer Notice includes a Minimum Transfer Condition and the total number of Shares applied for is less than the number of Sale Shares the Board shall notify the Seller and all those to whom Sale Shares have been conditionally allocated under Articles 12.7 and 12.8 stating the condition has not been met and that the relevant Transfer Notice has lapsed with immediate effect.

 

(b)

If:

 

(i)

the Transfer Notice does not include a Minimum Transfer Condition; and

 

(ii)

allocations have been made in respect of all the Sale Shares,

 

the Board shall, when no further offers are required to be made under Articles 12.7 and 12.8, give written notice of allocation (an “Allocation Notice”) to the Seller and each Shareholder to whom Sale Shares have been allocated (an “Applicant”) specifying the number of Sale Shares allocated to each Applicant and the place and time (being not less than 10 Business Days nor more than 20 Business Days after the date of the Allocation Notice) for completion of the transfer of the Sale Shares.

 

(c)

Upon service of an Allocation Notice, the Seller must, against payment of the Transfer Price, transfer the Sale Shares in accordance with the requirements specified in it.

 

(d)

If the Seller fails to comply with the provisions of Article 12.9(c):

 

(i)

the chairman of the Company or, failing him, one of the directors, or some other person nominated by a resolution of the Board, may on behalf of the Seller:

 

(A)

complete, execute and deliver in his name all documents necessary to give effect to the transfer of the relevant Sale Shares to the Applicants;

 

(B)

receive the Transfer Price and give a good discharge for it; and

 

(C)

(subject to the transfer being duly stamped) enter the Applicants in the register of Shareholders as the holders of the Shares purchased by them; and

 

(ii)

the Company shall pay the Transfer Price into a separate bank account in the Company’s name on trust (but without interest) for the Seller until he has delivered to the Company his certificate or certificates for the relevant Shares (or an indemnity, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Board, in respect of any lost certificate).

 

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(e)

If an Allocation Notice does not relate to all the Sale Shares then, subject to Article 12.9(f), the Seller may, within eight weeks after service of the Allocation Notice, transfer the Second Surplus Shares to any person at a price at least equal to the Transfer Price provided that the sale of the Second Surplus Shares shall continue to be subject to any Minimum Transfer Conditions.

 

(f)

The right of the Seller to transfer Shares under Article 12.9(e) does not apply if the Board is of the opinion on reasonable grounds that:

 

(i)

the transferee is a person (or a nominee for a person) who the Board determines in their absolute discretion is a competitor with (or an Associate of a competitor with) the business of the Company or with a Subsidiary Undertaking of the Company;

 

(ii)

the sale of the Sale Shares is not bona fide or the price is subject to a deduction, rebate or allowance to the transferee; or

 

(iii)

the Seller has failed or refused to provide promptly information available to it or him and reasonably requested by the Board for the purpose of enabling it to form the opinion mentioned above.

 

12.10

Waiver of restrictions

 

The restrictions imposed by this Article may be waived in relation to any proposed transfer of Shares with Investor Director Consent and the consent of Shareholders who, but for the waiver, would or might have been entitled to have such shares offered to them in accordance with this Article.

 

13.	Valuation of Shares

 

13.1

If a Transfer Notice does not specify a Transfer Price or, subject to Article 10.8, if a Transfer Notice is deemed to have been served then, upon service of the Transfer Notice or, in the case of the deemed service of a Transfer Notice, on the date on which the Board first has actual knowledge of the facts giving rise to such deemed service, the Board shall either:

 

(a)

appoint expert valuers in accordance with Article 13.2 (the “Expert Valuers”) to certify the Fair Value of the Sale Shares; or (if the Fair Value has been certified by Expert Valuers within the preceding 12 weeks)

 

(b)

specify that the Fair Value of the Sale Shares will be calculated by dividing any Fair Value so certified by the number of Sale Shares to which it related and multiplying such Fair Value by the number of Sale Shares the subject of the Transfer Notice.

 

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13.2	The Expert Valuers will be either:

 

(a)

the Auditors where no objection is made; or (if so specified in the relevant Transfer Notice)

 

(b)

an independent firm of Chartered Accountants to be agreed between the Board and the Seller or failing agreement not later than the date 10 Business Days after the date of service of the Transfer Notice to be appointed by the then President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales on the application of either party.

 

13.3	The “Fair Value” of the Sale Shares shall be determined by the Expert Valuer on the following assumptions and bases:

 

(a)

valuing the Sale Shares as on an arm’s-length sale between a willing seller and a willing buyer;

 

(b)

if the Company is then carrying on business as a going concern, on the assumption that it will continue to do so;

 

(c)

that the Sale Shares are capable of being transferred without restriction;

 

(d)

valuing the Sale Shares as a rateable proportion of the total value of all the issued Shares without any premium or discount being attributable to the percentage of the issued share capital of the Company which they represent; and

 

(e)

reflect any other factors which the Expert Valuers reasonably believe should be taken into account.

 

13.4	If any difficulty arises in applying any of these assumptions or bases then the Expert Valuers shall resolve that difficulty in whatever manner they shall in their absolute discretion think fit.

 

13.5	The Expert Valuers shall be requested to determine the Fair Value within 20 Business Days of their appointment and to notify the Board of their determination.

 

13.6	The Expert Valuers shall act as experts and not as arbitrators and their determination shall be final and binding on the parties (in the absence of fraud or manifest error).

 

13.7	The Board will give the Expert Valuers access to all accounting records or other relevant documents of the Company subject to them agreeing such confidentiality provisions as the Board may reasonably impose.

 

13.8

The Expert Valuers shall deliver their certificate to the Company. As soon as the Company receives the certificate it shall deliver a copy of it to the Seller. Unless the Sale Shares are to be sold under a Transfer Notice, which is deemed to have been served, the Seller may by notice in writing to the Company within five Business Days of the service on him of the copy certificate, cancel the Company’s authority to sell the Sale Shares.

 

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13.9	The cost of obtaining the certificate shall be paid by the Company unless:

 

(a)

the Seller cancels the Company’s authority to sell; or

 

(b)

the sale is pursuant to a Transfer Notice which is deemed to have been served, and the Sale Price certified by the Expert Valuers is less than the price (if any) offered by the directors to the Seller for the Sale Share before Expert Valuer was instructed,

 

in which case the Seller shall bear the cost.

 

14.	Compulsory transfers – general

 

14.1	A person entitled to a Share in consequence of the bankruptcy of a Shareholder shall be deemed to have given a Transfer Notice in respect of that Share at a time determined by the Directors.

 

14.2	If a Share remains registered in the name of a deceased Shareholder for longer than one year after the date of his death the Directors may require the legal personal representatives of that deceased Shareholder either:

 

(a)

to effect a Permitted Transfer of such Shares (including for this purpose an election to be registered in respect of the Permitted Transfer); or

 

(b)

to show to the satisfaction of the Directors that a Permitted Transfer will be effected before or promptly upon the completion of the administration of the estate of the deceased Shareholder.

 

If either requirement in this Article 14.2 shall not be fulfilled to the satisfaction of the Directors a Transfer Notice shall be deemed to have been given in respect of each such Share save to the extent that, the Directors may otherwise determine.

 

14.3

If a Shareholder which is a company, either suffers or resolves for the appointment of a liquidator, administrator or administrative receiver over it or any material part of its assets, the relevant Shareholder shall be deemed to have given a Transfer Notice in respect of all the shares held by the relevant Shareholder save to the extent that, and at a time, the Directors may determine.

 

14.4

If there is a change in control (as control is defined in section 1124 of the CTA 2010) of any Shareholder which is a company, it shall be bound at any time, if and when required in writing by the Directors to do so, to give (or procure the giving in the case of a nominee) a Transfer Notice in respect of all the Shares registered in its and their names and their respective nominees’ names save that, in the case of the Permitted Transferee, it shall first be permitted to transfer those Shares back to the original Shareholder from whom it received its Shares or to any other Permitted Transferee before being required to serve a Transfer Notice. This Article 14.4 shall not apply to a member that is an Investor.

 

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15.	Compulsory transfer – employees

 

15.1	If any Employee ceases:

 

(a)

by reason of being a Bad Leaver to be an Employee prior to the end of the Relevant Period the relevant Employee shall, be deemed to have given a Transfer Notice in respect of all the Employee Shares and Existing Option Shares held by them on the Effective Termination Date. In such circumstances the Transfer Price shall be the lower of Fair Value and the nominal value of those Shares;

 

(b)

by reason of being a Leaver to be an Employee prior to the end of the Relevant Period the relevant Employee shall be deemed to have given a Transfer Notice in respect of all the Employee Shares held by them on the Effective Termination Date. In such circumstances the Transfer Price shall be the lower of Fair Value and the nominal value of the Employee Shares; and

 

(c)

by reason of being a Good Leaver to be an Employee prior to the end of the Relevant Period the relevant Employee shall be deemed to have given a Transfer Notice in respect of all the Employee Shares held by them on the Effective Termination Date. In such circumstances the Transfer Price shall be Fair Value.

 

15.2	For the purposes of this Article, the Priority Rights shall be such that the Employee Shares are offered in the following order of priority:

 

(i)

first, to the Shareholders;

 

(ii)

second, as the Board shall determine, acting with Investor Director Consent, in each case on the basis as set out in Article 12.7.

 

15.3	All voting rights attached to Employee Shares held by an Employee (the “Restricted Member”), if any, shall at the time he ceases to be an Employee be suspended unless the Board and the Investor Majority notify him otherwise.

 

15.4

Any Employee Shares whose voting rights are suspended pursuant to Article 15.3 (“Restricted Shares”) shall confer on the holders of Restricted Shares the right to receive a notice of and attend all general meetings of the Company but shall have no right to vote either in person or by proxy or to vote on any proposed written resolution. Voting rights suspended pursuant to Article 15.3 shall be automatically restored immediately prior to an IPO. If a Restricted Member transfers any Restricted Shares in the Company in accordance with these Articles all voting rights attached to the Restricted Shares so transferred shall upon completion of the transfer (as evidenced by the transferee’s name being entered in the Company’s register of members) automatically be restored.

 

16.	Mandatory Offer on a Change of Control

 

16.1	Except in the case of Permitted Transfers and transfers pursuant to Articles 14 and 15, after going through the pre-emption procedure in Article 12, the provisions of Article 16.2 will apply if one or more Proposed Sellers propose to transfer in one or a series of

 

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related transactions any Equity Shares (the “Proposed Transfer”) which would, if put into effect, result in any Proposed Purchaser (and Associates of his or persons Acting in Concert with him) acquiring a Controlling Interest in the Company.

 

16.2

A Proposed Seller must, before making a Proposed Transfer procure the making by the Proposed Purchaser of an offer (the “Offer”) to the other Shareholders to acquire all of the Company’s Equity Shares for a consideration per share the value of which is at least equal to the Specified Price (as defined in Article 16.7).

 

16.3

The Offer must be given by written notice (a “Proposed Sale Notice”) at least 20 Business Days (the “Offer Period”) prior to the proposed sale date (“Proposed Sale Date”). The Proposed Sale Notice must set out, to the extent not described in any accompanying documents, the identity of the Proposed Purchaser, the purchase price and other terms and conditions of payment, the Proposed Sale Date and the number of Shares proposed to be purchased by the Proposed Purchaser (the “Proposed Sale Shares”).

 

16.4	If any other holder of Equity Shares is not given the rights accorded him by this Article, the Proposed Sellers will not be entitled to complete their sale and the Company will not register any transfer intended to carry that sale into effect.

 

16.5	If the Offer is accepted by any Shareholder (an “Accepting Shareholder”) within the Offer Period, the completion of the Proposed Transfer will be conditional upon the completion of the purchase of all the Shares held by Accepting Shareholders.

 

16.6	The Proposed Transfer is subject to the pre-emption provisions of Article 12.2 but the purchase of the Accepting Shareholders’ shares shall not be subject to Article 12.

 

16.7	For the purpose of this Article:

 

(a)

the expression “transfer” and “purchaser” shall include the renunciation of a renounceable letter of allotment and the renouncee under any such letter of allotment respectively;

 

(b)

the expression “Specified Price” shall mean in respect of each Share a sum in cash equal to the highest price per Share offered or paid by the Proposed Purchaser:

 

(i)

in the Proposed Transfer; or

 

(ii)

in any related or previous transaction by the Proposed Purchaser or any person Acting in Concert with the Proposed Purchaser in the 12 months preceding the date of the Proposed Transfer,

 

plus an amount equal to the Relevant Sum, as defined in Article 16.7(c), of any other consideration (in cash or otherwise) paid or payable by the Proposed Purchaser or any other person Acting in Concert with the Proposed Purchaser, which having regard to the substance of the transaction as a whole, can reasonably be regarded as an addition to the price paid or payable for the Shares (the “Supplemental Consideration”);

 

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(c)

Relevant Sum = C ÷ A

 

where:		A = number of Equity Shares being sold in connection with the relevant Proposed Transfer;
		C = the Supplemental Consideration.

 

17.

Not Used

 

18.	Drag-along

 

18.1

If the holders of 65% of the Shares (the “Selling Shareholders”) acting with Investor Majority Consent wish to transfer all their interest in Shares (the “Sellers’ Shares”) to a Proposed Purchaser acting in good faith, the Selling Shareholders shall have the option (the “Drag Along Option”) to require all the other holders of Shares (the “Called Shareholders”) to sell and transfer all their Shares to the Proposed Purchaser or as the Proposed Purchaser shall direct in accordance with the provisions of this Article.

 

18.2

The Selling Shareholders may exercise the Drag Along Option by giving a written notice to that effect (a “Drag Along Notice”) to the Company which the Company shall forthwith copy to the Called Shareholders at any time before the transfer of the Sellers’ Shares to the Proposed Purchaser. A Drag Along Notice shall specify that the Called Shareholders are required to transfer all their Shares (the “Called Shares”) under this Article, the person to whom they are to be transferred, the consideration for which the Called Shares are to be transferred (calculated in accordance with this Article) and the proposed date of transfer.

 

18.3

Drag Along Notices shall be irrevocable but will lapse if for any reason there is not a sale of the Sellers’ Shares by the Selling Shareholders to the Proposed Purchaser within 40 Business Days after the date of service of the Drag Along Notice. The Selling Shareholders shall be entitled to serve further Drag Along Notices following the lapse of any particular Drag Along Notice.

 

18.4	The consideration (in cash or otherwise) for which the Called Shareholders shall be obliged to sell each of the Called Shares shall not be less than the Specified Price and will attribute an equal value to each Share (including the Sellers’ Shares) to be acquired by the Proposed Purchaser.

 

18.5	No Drag Along Notice may require a Called Shareholder to agree to any terms except those specifically provided for in this Article.

 

18.6

Within five Business Days of the Selling Shareholders serving a Drag Along Notice on the Called Shareholders, the Called Shareholders shall deliver stock transfer forms for their Shares in favour of the Proposed Purchaser or as the Proposed Purchaser shall direct, together with the relevant share certificate(s) (or a suitable indemnity in lieu thereof) to the Company. On the expiration of that five Business Day period the Company shall pay the Called Shareholders, on behalf of the Proposed Purchaser, the amounts they are due pursuant to Article 18.4 to the extent the Proposed Purchaser has

 

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put the Company in the requisite funds. The Company’s receipt for the amounts due pursuant to Article 18.4 shall be a good discharge to the Purchaser. The Company shall hold the amounts due to the Called Shareholders pursuant to Article 18.4 in trust for the Called Shareholders without any obligation to pay interest.

 

18.7

To the extent that the Proposed Purchaser has not, on the expiration of such five Business Day period, put the Company in funds to pay the amounts due pursuant to Article 18.4, the Called Shareholders shall be entitled to the return of the stock transfer forms and share certificate (or suitable indemnity) for the relevant Shares and the Called Shareholders shall have no further rights or obligations under this Article 18 in respect of their Shares.

 

18.8

If a Called Shareholder fails to deliver stock transfer forms and share certificates (or suitable indemnity) for its Shares to the Company upon the expiration of that five Business Day period, the Directors shall, if requested by the Proposed Purchaser, authorise any Director to transfer the Called Shareholder’s Shares on the Called Shareholder’s behalf to the Proposed Purchaser (or its nominee(s)) to the extent the Proposed Purchaser has, at the expiration of that five Business Day period, put the Company in funds to pay the amounts due pursuant to Article 18.4 for the Called Shareholder’s Shares offered to him. The Board shall then authorise registration of the transfer once appropriate stamp duty has been paid. The defaulting Called Shareholder shall surrender his share certificate for his Shares (or provide a suitable indemnity) to the Company. On surrender, he shall be entitled to the amount due to him pursuant to Article 18.4.

 

18.9	Any transfer of Shares to a Proposed Purchaser (or as they may direct) pursuant to a sale in respect of which a Drag Along Notice has been duly served shall not be subject to the provisions of Article 12.

 

18.10

On any person, following the issue of a Drag Along Notice, becoming a Shareholder of the Company pursuant to the exercise of a pre-existing option to acquire shares in the Company or pursuant to the conversion of any convertible security of the Company (a “New Shareholder”), a Drag Along Notice shall be deemed to have been served on the New Shareholder on the same terms as the previous Drag Along Notice who shall then be bound to sell and transfer all Shares so acquired to the Proposed Purchaser or as the Proposed Purchaser may direct and the provisions of this Article shall apply with the necessary changes to the New Shareholder except that completion of the sale of the Shares shall take place immediately on the Drag Along Notice being deemed served on the New Shareholder.

 

19.	General meetings

 

19.1	If the Directors are required by the Shareholders under section 303 of the Act to call a general meeting, the Directors shall convene the meeting for a date not later than 28 days after the date on which the Directors became subject to the requirement under section 303 of the Act.

 

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19.2

The provisions of section 318 of the Act shall apply to the Company save that if a quorum is not present at any meeting adjourned for the reason referred to in article 41 of the Model Articles, then, provided that the Qualifying Person present holds or represents the holder of at least 50 per cent in nominal value of the Series A Shares and Series B Shares, any resolution agreed to by such Qualifying Person shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed unanimously at a general meeting of the Company duly convened and held.

 

19.3

If any two or more Shareholders (or Qualifying Persons representing two or more Shareholders) attend the meeting in different locations, the meeting shall be treated as being held at the location specified in the notice of the meeting, save that if no one is present at that location so specified, the meeting shall be deemed to take place where the largest number of Qualifying Persons is assembled or, if no such group can be identified, at the location of the chairman.

 

19.4	If a demand for a poll is withdrawn under article 44(3) of the Model Articles, the demand shall not be taken to have invalidated the result of a show of hands declared before the demand was made and the meeting shall continue as if the demand had not been made.

 

19.5

Polls must be taken in such manner as the chairman directs. A poll demanded on the election of a chairman or on a question of adjournment must be held immediately. A poll demanded on any other question must be held either immediately or at such time and place as the chairman directs not being more than 14 days after the poll is demanded. The demand for a poll shall not prevent the continuance of a meeting for the transaction of any business other than the question on which the poll was demanded.

 

19.6	No notice need be given of a poll not held immediately if the time and place at which it is to be taken are announced at the meeting at which it is demanded. In any other case at least seven clear days’ notice shall be given specifying the time and place at which the poll is to be taken.

 

19.7

If the poll is to be held more than 48 hours after it was demanded the Shareholders shall be entitled to deliver Proxy Notices in respect of the poll at any time up to 24 hours before the time appointed for taking that poll. In calculating that period, no account shall be taken of any part of a day that is not a working day.

 

20.

Proxies

 

20.1

Paragraph (c) of article 45(1) of the Model Articles shall be deleted and replaced by the words: “is signed by or on behalf of the shareholder appointing the proxy and accompanied by any the authority under which it is signed (or a certified copy of such authority or a copy of such authority in some other way approved by the directors)”.

 

20.2	The instrument appointing a proxy and any authority under which it is signed or a certified copy of such authority or a copy in some other way approved by the Directors may:

 

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(a)

be sent or supplied in hard copy form, or (subject to any conditions and limitations which the Board may specify) in electronic form, to the registered office of the Company or to such other address (including electronic address) as may be specified for this purpose in the notice convening the meeting or in any instrument of proxy or any invitation to appoint a proxy sent or supplied by the Company in relation to the meeting at any time before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the instrument proposes to vote;

 

(b)

be delivered at the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the instrument proposes to vote to the chairman or to the company secretary or to any Director; or

 

(c)

in the case of a poll, be delivered at the meeting at which the poll was demanded to the chairman or to the company secretary or to any Director, or at the time and place at which the poll is held to the Chairman or to the company secretary or to any Director or scrutineer,

 

and an instrument of proxy which is not deposited or delivered in a manner so permitted shall be invalid.

 

21.	Directors’ borrowing powers

 

The Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow or raise money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and uncalled capital and to issue debentures, debenture stock and other securities as security for any debt, liability of obligation of the Company or of any third party.

 

22.	Alternate Directors

 

22.1	Notwithstanding any provision of these Articles to the contrary, any person appointed as a Director (the “Appointer”) may appoint any director or any other person as he thinks fit to be his alternate Director to:

 

(a)

exercise that Director’s powers; and

 

(b)

carry out that Director’s responsibilities in relation to the taking of decisions by the Directors in the absence of the alternate’s Appointor.

 

The appointment of an alternate Director shall not require approval by a resolution of the Directors.

 

22.2	Any appointment or removal of an alternate must be effected by notice in writing to the Company signed by the Appointor, or in any other manner approved by the Directors.

 

22.3	The notice must:

 

(a)

identify the proposed alternate; and

 

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(b)

in the case of a notice of appointment, contain a statement signed by the proposed alternate that the proposed alternate is willing to act as the alternate of the Director giving the notice.

 

22.4	An alternate Director may act as an alternate to more than one Director and has the same rights, in relation to any Directors’ meeting (including as to notice) or Directors’ written resolution, as the alternate’s Appointor.

 

22.5	Except as these Articles specify otherwise, alternate directors:

 

(a)

are deemed for all purposes to be Directors;

 

(b)

are liable for their own acts and omissions;

 

(c)

are subject to the same restrictions as their Appointors; and

 

(d)

are not deemed to be agents of or for their Appointors,

 

and, in particular (without limitation), each alternate director shall be entitled to receive notice of all meetings of Directors and of all meetings of committees of Directors of which his Appointor is a member.

 

22.6	A person who is an alternate Director but not a Director:

 

(a)

may be counted as participating for the purposes of determining whether a quorum is participating (but only if that person’s Appointor is not participating); and

 

(b)

may sign a Directors’ written resolution (but only if his Appointor is an Eligible Director in relation to that decision, but does not participate).

 

No alternate may be counted as more than one Director for such purposes.

 

22.7	A Director who is also an alternate Director is entitled, in the absence of his Appointor, to a separate vote on behalf of each Appointor, in addition to his own vote on any decision of the Directors (provided that his Appointor is an Eligible Director in relation to that decision).

 

22.8	An alternate Director is not entitled to receive any remuneration from the company for serving as an alternate Director, except such part of the alternate’s Appointor’s remuneration as the Appointor may direct by notice in writing made to the Company.

 

22.9	An alternate Director’s appointment as an alternate shall terminate:

 

(a)

when the alternate’s Appointor revokes the appointment by notice to the Company in writing specifying when it is to terminate;

 

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(b)

on the occurrence in relation to the alternate of any event which, if it occurred in relation to the alternate’s Appointor, would result in the termination of the Appointor’s appointment as a Director;

 

(c)

on the death of the alternate’s Appointor; or

 

(d)

when the alternate’s Appointor’s appointment as a Director terminates.

 

23.	Number of Directors

 

Unless and until the Company shall otherwise determine by ordinary resolution, the number of Directors shall be not less than two.

 

24.	Appointment of Directors

 

24.1

Sofinnova Partners shall be entitled to nominate one person to act as a Director of the Company by notice in writing addressed to the Company from time to time and the other holders of Shares shall not vote their Shares so as to remove that Director from office. Sofinnova Partners shall be entitled to remove their nominated Director so appointed at any time by notice in writing to the Company served at its registered office and appoint another person to act in his place.

 

24.2

Sofinnova Ventures shall be entitled to nominate one person to act as a Director of the Company by notice in writing addressed to the Company from time to time and the other holders of Shares shall not vote their Shares so as to remove that Director from office. Sofinnova Ventures shall be entitled to remove their nominated Director so appointed at any time by notice in writing to the Company served at its registered office and appoint another person to act in his place.

 

24.3

Morningside shall be entitled to nominate one person to act as a Director of the Company by notice in writing addressed to the Company from time to time and the other holders of Shares shall not vote their Shares so as to remove that Director from office. Morningside shall be entitled to remove their nominated Director so appointed at any time by notice in writing to the Company served at its registered office and appoint another person to act in his place.

 

24.4	An appointment or removal of a Director under this Article 24 will take effect at and from the time when the notice is received at the registered office of the Company or produced to a meeting of the directors of the Company.

 

24.5	The Directors appointed pursuant to this Article 24 shall be entitled at their request to be appointed to any committee of the Board established from time to time and to the board of directors of any Subsidiary Undertaking.

 

24.6

For so long as any member of the Scottish Enterprise Group holds any Shares, Scottish Enterprise shall be entitled, following prior consultation with the board of the Company (subject to Article 24.8), to appoint one director of the Company and shall be entitled to remove and, following prior consultation with the board of the Company (subject to

 

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Article 24.8), replace any such director so appointed, and to have any director so appointed, appointed to any committee of the Board established from time to time and to the board of directors of any Subsidiary Undertaking.

 

24.7

For so long as any member of the Alida Group holds any Shares, the members of the Alida Group holding Shares shall (acting by majority in nominal value) be entitled, following prior consultation with the board of the Company (subject to Article 24.8), to appoint one director of the Company and shall be entitled to remove and, following prior consultation with the board of the Company (subject to Article 24.8), replace any such director so appointed, and to have any director so appointed, appointed to any committee of the Board established from time to time and to the board of directors of any Subsidiary Undertaking.

 

24.8

Where the Board believe, acting reasonably, that any proposed appointee pursuant to Article 24.6 or 24.7 has or may have a conflict of interest or competing interests to his proposed role as director and the relevant appointor still wishes to make the appointment such appointment shall require the approval of the Board, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Board decline so to approve any appointee then the appointor is entitled to appoint an alternative appointee and to do so as often as is necessary until an appointee of that appointor is approved by the Board.

 

25.	Disqualification of Directors

 

In addition to that provided in article 18 of the Model Articles, the office of a Director shall also be vacated (other than in the case of the Investor Directors) if he is convicted of a criminal offence (other than a minor motoring offence) and the Directors resolve that his office be vacated.

 

26.	Proceedings of Directors

 

26.1

The quorum for Directors’ meetings shall be two Directors who must include the Investor Directors (save that where a Relevant Interest of an Investor Director is being authorised by other Directors in accordance with section 175(5)(a) of the Act, such Investor Director and any other interested Director shall not be included for the purpose of such authorisation but shall be included for the purpose of forming the quorum). If such a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting, or if during a meeting such quorum ceases to be present, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and place or at such time and place as determined by the Directors present at such meeting and the provisions of this Article 26.1 shall apply accordingly.

 

26.2

In the event that a meeting of the Directors is attended by a Director who is acting as alternate for one or more other Directors, the Director or Directors for whom he is the alternate shall be counted in the quorum despite their absence, and if on that basis there is a quorum the meeting may be held despite the fact (if it is the case) that only one Director is physically present.

 

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26.3

If all the Directors participating in a meeting of the Directors are not physically in the same place, the meeting shall be deemed to take place where the largest group of participators in number is assembled. In the absence of a majority the location of the chairman shall be deemed to be the place of the meeting.

 

26.4

Notice of a Directors’ meeting need not be given to Directors who waive their entitlement to notice of that meeting, by giving notice to that effect to the Company at any time before or after the date on which the meeting is held. Where such notice is given after the meeting has been held, that does not affect the validity of the meeting, or of any business conducted at it.

 

26.5

Provided (if these Articles so require) that he has declared to the Directors, in accordance with the provisions of these Articles, the nature and extent of his interest (and subject to any restrictions on voting or counting in a quorum imposed by the Directors in authorising a Relevant Interest, a Director may vote at a meeting of the Directors or of a committee of the Directors on any resolution concerning a matter in which he has an interest, whether a direct or an indirect interest, or in relation to which he has a duty and shall also be counted in reckoning whether a quorum is present at such a meeting.

 

26.6	Questions arising at any meeting of the Directors shall be decided by a majority of votes. In the case of any equality of votes, the chairman shall not have a second or casting vote.

 

26.7

If the Chairman of the Board has not been appointed within six months of the Date of Adoption or within six months of the resignation of a Chairman two or more of the non-executive Directors of the Company at that relevant time shall be entitled to appoint a Chairman by notice in writing addressed to the Company. Article 12 of the Model Articles shall be modified accordingly. This Article 26.7 is without prejudice to the Board’s right to appoint the Chairman otherwise.

 

26.8

A decision of the Directors may take the form of a resolution in writing, where each Eligible Director has signed one or more copies of it, or to which each Eligible Director has otherwise indicated agreement in writing (including confirmation given by electronic means). Reference in article 7(1) of the Model Articles to article 8 of the Model Articles shall be deemed to include a reference to this Article also.

 

27.	Directors’ interests

 

Specific interests of a Director

 

27.1

Subject to the provisions of the Act and provided (if these Articles so require) that he has declared to the Directors in accordance with the provisions of these Articles, the nature and extent of his interest, a Director may (save as to the extent not permitted by law from time to time), notwithstanding his office, have an interest of the following kind:

 

(a)

where a Director (or a person connected with him) is party to or in any way directly or indirectly interested in, or has any duty in respect of, any existing or proposed contract, arrangement or transaction with the Company or any other undertaking in which the Company is in any way interested;

 

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(b)

where a Director (or a person connected with him) is a director, employee or other officer of, or a party to any contract, arrangement or transaction with, or in any way interested in, any body corporate promoted by the Company or in which the Company is in any way interested;

 

(c)

where a Director (or a person connected with him) is a shareholder in the Company or a shareholder in, employee, director, member or other officer of, or consultant to, a Parent Undertaking of, or a Subsidiary Undertaking of a Parent Undertaking of, the Company;

 

(d)

where a Director (or a person connected with him) holds and is remunerated in respect of any office or place of profit (other than the office of auditor) in respect of the Company or body corporate in which the Company is in any way interested;

 

(e)

where a Director is given a guarantee, or is to be given a guarantee, in respect of an obligation incurred by or on behalf of the Company or any body corporate in which the Company is in any way interested;

 

(f)

where a Director (or a person connected with him or of which he is a member or employee) acts (or any body corporate promoted by the Company or in which the Company is in any way interested of which he is a director, employee or other officer may act) in a professional capacity for the Company or any body corporate promoted by the Company or in which the Company is in any way interested (other than as auditor) whether or not he or it is remunerated for this;

 

(g)

an interest which cannot reasonably be regarded as likely to give rise to a conflict of interest; or

 

(h)

any other interest authorised by ordinary resolution.

 

Interests of an Investor Director

 

27.2

In addition to the provisions of Article 27.1, subject to the provisions of the Act and provided (if these Articles so require) that he has declared to the Directors in accordance with the provisions of these Articles, the nature and extent of his interest, where a Director is an Investor Director he may (save as to the extent not permitted by law from time to time), notwithstanding his office, have an interest arising from any duty he may owe to, or interest he may have as an employee, director, trustee, member, partner, officer or representative of, or a consultant to, or direct or indirect investor (including without limitation by virtue of a carried interest, remuneration or incentive arrangements or the holding of securities) in:

 

(a)

an Investor Fund Manager;

 

(b)

any of the funds advised or managed by an Investor Fund Manager from time to time; or

 

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(c)

another body corporate or firm in which an Investor Fund Manager or any fund advised by such Fund Manager has directly or indirectly invested, including without limitation any portfolio companies.

 

Interests of which a Director is not aware

 

27.3	For the purposes of this Article 27, an interest of which a Director is not aware and of which it is unreasonable to expect him to be aware shall not be treated as an interest of his.

 

Accountability of any benefit and validity of a contract

 

27.4

In any situation permitted by this Article 27 (save as otherwise agreed by him) a Director shall not by reason of his office be accountable to the Company for any benefit which he derives from that situation and no such contract, arrangement or transaction shall be avoided on the grounds of any such interest or benefit.

 

Terms and conditions of Board authorisation

 

27.5	Subject to Article 27.6, any authority given in accordance with section 175(5)(a) of the Act in respect of a Director (“Interested Director”) who has proposed that the Directors authorise his interest (“Relevant Interest”) pursuant to that section may, for the avoidance of doubt:

 

(a)

be given on such terms and subject to such conditions or limitations as may be imposed by the authorising Directors as they see fit from time to time, including, without limitation:

 

(i)

restricting the Interested Director from voting on any resolution put to a meeting of the Directors or of a committee of the Directors in relation to the Relevant Interest;

 

(ii)

restricting the Interested Director from being counted in the quorum at a meeting of the Directors or of a committee of the Directors where such Relevant Interest is to be discussed; or

 

(iii)

restricting the application of the provisions in Articles 28.7 and 28.8, so far as is permitted by law, in respect of such Interested Director;

 

(b)

be withdrawn, or varied at any time by the Directors entitled to authorise the Relevant Situation as they see fit from time to time; and

 

subject to Article 27.6, an Interested Director must act in accordance with any such terms, conditions or limitations imposed by the authorising Directors pursuant to section 175(5)(a) of the Act and this Article 27.

 

Director’s duty of confidentiality to a person other than the Company

 

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27.6

Subject to Article 27.8 (and without prejudice to any equitable principle or rule of law which may excuse or release the Director from disclosing information, in circumstances where disclosure may otherwise be required under this Article 27), if a Director, otherwise than by virtue of his position as director, receives information in respect of which he owes a duty of confidentiality to a person other than the Company, he shall not be required:

 

(a)

to disclose such information to the Company or to any Director, or to any officer or employee of the Company; or

 

(b)

otherwise to use or apply such confidential information for the purpose of or in connection with the performance of his duties as a Director.

 

27.7

Where such duty of confidentiality arises out of a situation in which a Director has, or can have, a direct or indirect interest that conflicts, or possibly may conflict, with the interests of the Company, Article 27.7 shall apply only if the conflict arises out of a matter which falls within Article 27.1 or Article 27.2 or has been authorised under section 175(5)(a) of the Act.

 

Additional steps to be taken by a Director to manage a conflict of interest

 

27.8

Where a Director has an interest which can reasonably be regarded as likely to give rise to a conflict of interest, the Director may take such additional steps as may be necessary or desirable for the purpose of managing such conflict of interest, including compliance with any procedures laid down from time to time by the Directors for the purpose of managing conflicts of interest generally and/or any specific procedures approved by the Directors for the purpose of or in connection with the situation or matter in question, including without limitation:

 

(a)

absenting himself from any discussions, whether in meetings of the Directors or otherwise, at which the relevant situation or matter falls to be considered; and

 

(b)

excluding himself from documents or information made available to the Directors generally in relation to such situation or matter and/or arranging for such documents or information to be reviewed by a professional adviser to ascertain the extent to which it might be appropriate for him to have access to such documents or information.

 

Requirement of a Director is to declare an interest

 

27.9

Subject to section 182 of the Act, a Director shall declare the nature and extent of any interest permitted by Article 27.1 or Article 27.2 at a meeting of the Directors, or by general notice in accordance with section 184 (notice in writing) or section 185 (general notice) of the Act or in such other manner as the Directors may determine, except that no declaration of interest shall be required by a Director in relation to an interest:

 

(a)

falling under Article 27.1(g);

 

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(b)

if, or to the extent that, the other Directors are already aware of such interest (and for this purpose the other Directors are treated as aware of anything of which they ought reasonably to be aware); or

 

(c)

if, or to the extent that, it concerns the terms of his service contract (as defined by section 227 of the Act) that have been or are to be considered by a meeting of the Directors, or by a committee of Directors appointed for the purpose under these Articles.

 

Shareholder approval

 

27.10

Subject to section 239 of the Act, the Company may by ordinary resolution ratify any contract, transaction or arrangement, or other proposal, not properly authorised by reason of a contravention of any provisions of this Article 27.

 

27.11

For the purposes of this Article 27:

 

(a)

a conflict of interest includes a conflict of interest and duty and a conflict of duties;

 

(b)

the provisions of section 252 of the Act shall determine whether a person is connected with a Director;

 

(c)

a general notice to the Directors that a Director is to be regarded as having an interest of the nature and extent specified in the notice in any transaction or arrangement in which a specified person or class of persons is interested shall be deemed to be a disclosure that the Director has an interest in any such transaction of the nature and extent so specified.

 

28.

Notices

 

28.1	Subject to the requirements set out in the Act, any notice given or document sent or supplied to or by any person under these Articles, or otherwise sent by the Company under the Act, may be given, sent or supplied:

 

(a)

in hard copy form;

 

(b)

in electronic form; or

 

(c)

(by the Company) by means of a website (other than notices calling a meeting of Directors),

 

or partly by one of these means and partly by another of these means.

 

Notices shall be given and documents supplied in accordance with the procedures set out in the Act, except to the extent that a contrary provision is set out in this Article 28.

 

Notices in hard copy form

 

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28.2	Any notice or other document in hard copy form given or supplied under these Articles may be delivered or sent by first class post (airmail if overseas):

 

(a)

to the Company or any other company at its registered office; or

 

(b)

to the address notified to or by the Company for that purpose; or

 

(c)

in the case of an intended recipient who is a member or his legal personal representative or trustee in bankruptcy, to such member’s address as shown in the Company’s register of members; or

 

(d)

in the case of an intended recipient who is a Director or alternate, to his address as shown in the register of Directors; or

 

(e)

to any other address to which any provision of the Companies Acts (as defined in the Act) authorises the document or information to be sent or supplied; or

 

(f)

where the Company is the sender, if the Company is unable to obtain an address falling within one of the addresses referred to in (a) to (e) above, to the intended recipient’s last address known to the Company.

 

28.3	Any notice or other document in hard copy form given or supplied under these Articles shall be deemed to have been served and be effective:

 

(a)

if delivered, at the time of delivery;

 

(b)

if posted, on receipt or 48 hours after the time it was posted, whichever occurs first.

 

Notices in electronic form

 

28.4	Subject to the provisions of the Act, any notice or other document in electronic form given or supplied under these Articles may:

 

(a)

if sent by fax or email (provided that a fax number or an address for email has been notified to or by the Company for that purpose), be sent by the relevant form of communication to that address;

 

(b)

if delivered or sent by first class post (airmail if overseas) in an electronic form (such as sending a disk by post), be so delivered or sent as if in hard copy form under Article 28.2; or

 

(c)

be sent by such other electronic means (as defined in section 1168 of the Act) and to such address(es) as the Company may specify:

 

(i)

on its website from time to time; or

 

(ii)

by notice (in hard copy or electronic form) to all members of the Company from time to time.

 

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28.5	Any notice or other document in electronic form given or supplied under these Articles shall be deemed to have been served and be effective:

 

(a)

if sent by facsimile or email (where a fax number or an address for email has been notified to or by the Company for that purpose), on receipt or 48 hours after the time it was sent, whichever occurs first;

 

(b)

if posted in an electronic form, on receipt or 48 hours after the time it was posted, whichever occurs first;

 

(c)

if delivered in an electronic form, at the time of delivery; and

 

(d)

if sent by any other electronic means as referred to in Article 28.4(c), at the time such delivery is deemed to occur under the Act.

 

28.6

Where the Company is able to show that any notice or other document given or sent under these Articles by electronic means was properly addressed with the electronic address supplied by the intended recipient, the giving or sending of that notice or other document shall be effective notwithstanding any receipt by the Company at any time of notice either that such method of communication has failed or of the intended recipient’s non-receipt.

 

Notice by means of a website

 

28.7	Subject to the provisions of the Act, any notice or other document or information to be given, sent or supplied by the Company to Shareholders under these Articles may be given, sent or supplied by the Company by making it available on the Company’s website.

 

General

 

28.8	In the case of joint holders of a share all notices shall be given to the joint holder whose name stands first in the register of members of the Company in respect of the joint holding (the “Primary Holder”). Notice so given shall constitute notice to all the joint holders.

 

28.9	Anything agreed or specified by the Primary Holder in relation to the service, sending or supply of notices, documents or other information shall be treated as the agreement or specification of all the joint holders in their capacity as such (whether for the purposes of the Act or otherwise).

 

28.10

Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles no notice, document or other information shall be deemed served on or delivered to any member of the Scottish Enterprise Group if such service or delivery is by facsimile or electronic means via e-mail or a website.

 

28.11

Any notice, document or other information served or delivered to any member of the Scottish Enterprise Group shall be delivered to Atrium Court, 50 Waterloo Street,

 

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Glasgow, G2 6HQ, or such other principal place of business as Scottish Enterprise may notify from time to time and marked for the attention of The Head of Transactions with a copy sent to the Head of Portfolio Management at the same address.

 

28.12

Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles no notice, document or other information shall be deemed served on or delivered to Morningside in (i) hard copy; or (ii) posted in electronic form unless it is sent by guaranteed overnight courier delivery to the addresses provided by Morningside for that purpose, and deemed delivered when received by Morningside, and this Article 28 shall be amended accordingly.

 

28.13

Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles no notice, document or other information shall be deemed served on or delivered to Sofinnova Ventures if such service or delivery is by email or other electronic communication (including a website).

 

28.14

Any notice, document or other information served or delivered to Sofinnova Ventures shall be delivered by post or fax to 2800 Sand Hill Road, Suite 150, Menlo Park, CA 94025, Fax: 650-322-2037 and marked for the attention of Hooman Shahlavi, with a copy via email (not constituting notice) to Daniel Oates at doates@omm.com.

 

29.	Indemnities and insurance

 

29.1	Subject to the provisions of and so far as may be permitted by, the Act:

 

(a)

every Director or other officer of the Company (excluding the Company’s auditors) shall be entitled to be indemnified by the Company (and the Company shall also be able to indemnify directors of any associated company (as defined in section 256 of the Act)) out of the Company’s assets against all liabilities incurred by him in the actual or purported execution or discharge of his duties or the exercise or purported exercise of his powers or otherwise in relation to or in connection with his duties, powers or office, provided that no director of the Company or any associated company is indemnified by the Company against:

 

(i)

any liability incurred by the director to the Company or any associated company; or

 

(ii)

any liability incurred by the director to pay a fine imposed in criminal proceedings or a sum payable to a regulatory authority by way of a penalty in respect of non-compliance with any requirements of a regulatory nature; or

 

(iii)

any liability incurred by the director:

 

(A)

in defending any criminal proceedings in which he is convicted;

 

(B)

in defending civil proceedings brought by the Company or any associated company in which final judgment (within the meaning set out in section 234 of the Act) is given against him; or

 

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(C)

in connection with any application under sections 661(3) or 661(4) or 1157 of the Act (as the case may be) for which the court refuses to grant him relief,

 

save that, in respect of a provision indemnifying a director of a company (whether or not the Company) that is a trustee of an occupational pension scheme (as that term is used in section 235 of the Act) against liability incurred in connection with that company’s activities as trustee of the scheme, the Company shall also be able to indemnify any such director without the restrictions in Articles 29.1(a)(i), 29.1(a)(iii)(B) and 29.1(a)(iii)(C) applying;

 

(b)

the Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to purchase and maintain insurance for any such Director or other officer against any liability which by virtue of any rule of law would otherwise attach to him in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which he may be guilty in relation to the Company, or any associated company including (if he is a director of a company which is a trustee of an occupational pension scheme) in connection with that company’s activities as trustee of an occupational pension scheme.

 

29.2

The Company shall (at the cost of the Company) effect and maintain for each Director policies of insurance insuring each Director against risks in relation to his office as each director may reasonably specify including without limitation, any liability which by virtue of any rule of law may attach to him in respect of any negligence, default of duty or breach of trust of which he may be guilty in relation to the Company.

 

30.	Data Protection

 

30.1

Each of the Shareholders and Directors consent to the processing of their personal data by the Company, the Shareholders and Directors (each a “Recipient”) for the purpose of due diligence exercises, compliance with applicable laws, regulations and procedures and the exchange of information among themselves. A Recipient may process the personal data either electronically or manually. The personal data which may be processed under this Article shall include any information which may have a bearing on the prudence or commercial merits of investing, or disposing of any shares (or other investment or security) in the Company. Other than as required by law, court order or other regulatory authority, that personal data may not be disclosed by a Recipient or any other person except to a Member of the same Group (“Recipient Group Companies”) and to employees, directors and professional advisers of that Recipient or the Recipient Group Companies and funds managed by any of the Recipient Group Companies. Each of the Shareholders and Directors consent to the transfer of relevant personal data to persons acting on behalf of the Recipient and to the offices of any Recipient both within and outside the European Economic Area for the purposes stated above, where it is necessary or desirable to do so.

 

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31.

Secretary

 

Subject to the provisions of the Act, the Directors may appoint a secretary for such term, at such remuneration and upon such conditions as they may think fit; and any secretary so appointed may be removed by them.

 

32.

Lien

 

32.1

The Company shall have a first and paramount lien (the “Company’s Lien”) over every Share not fully paid for all and any indebtedness of any holder of it to the Company (whether a sole holder or one of two or more joint holders), whether or not that indebtedness or liability is in respect of the Shares concerned and whether or not it is presently payable.

 

32.2	The Company’s Lien over a Share:

 

(a)

shall take priority over any third party’s interest in that Share; and

 

(b)

extends to any dividend or other money payable by the Company in respect of that Share and (if the lien is enforced and the Share is sold by the Company) the proceeds of sale of that Share.

 

The Directors may at any time decide that a Share which is, or would otherwise be, subject to the Company’s Lien shall not be subject to it, either wholly or in part.

 

32.3	Subject to the provisions of this Article 32, if:

 

(a)

a notice complying with Article 32.4 (a “Lien Enforcement Notice”) has been given by the Company in respect of a Share; and

 

(b)

the person to whom the notice was given has failed to comply with it,

 

the Company shall be entitled to sell that Share in such manner as the Directors decide.

 

32.4	A Lien Enforcement Notice:

 

(a)

may only be given by the Company in respect of a Share which is subject to the Company’s Lien, in respect of which a sum is payable and the due date for payment of that sum has passed;

 

(b)

must specify the Share concerned;

 

(c)

must require payment of the sum payable within 14 days of the notice;

 

(d)

must be addressed either to the holder of the Share or to a person entitled to it by reason of the holder’s death, bankruptcy or otherwise; and

 

(e)

must state the Company’s intention to sell the Share if the notice is not complied with.

 

48

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32.5	Where any Share is sold pursuant to this Article 32:

 

(a)

the Directors may authorise any person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Share to the purchaser or a person nominated by the purchaser; and

 

(b)

the transferee shall not be bound to see to the application of the consideration, and the transferee’s title shall not be affected by any irregularity in or invalidity of the process leading to the sale.

 

32.6	The net proceeds of any such sale (after payment of the costs of sale and any other costs of enforcing the lien) must be applied:

 

(a)

first, in payment of so much of the sum for which the lien exists as was payable at the date of the Lien Enforcement Notice;

 

(b)

secondly, to the person entitled to the Share at the date of the sale, but only after the certificate for the Share sold has been surrendered to the Company for cancellation or an indemnity in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Directors has been given for any lost certificate, and subject to a lien equivalent to the Company’s Lien for any money payable (whether or not it is presently payable) as existing upon the Share before the sale in respect of all Shares registered in the name of that person (whether as the sole registered holder or as one of several joint holders) after the date of the Lien Enforcement Notice.

 

32.7	A statutory declaration by a Director or the company secretary that the declarant is a Director or the company secretary and that a Share has been sold to satisfy the Company’s Lien on a specified date:

 

(a)

shall be conclusive evidence of the facts stated in it as against all persons claiming to be entitled to the Share; and

 

(b)

subject to compliance with any other formalities of transfer required by these Articles or by law, shall constitute a good title to the Share.

 

33.	Call Notices

 

33.1

Subject to these Articles and the terms on which Shares are allotted, the Directors may send a notice (a “Call Notice”) to a Shareholder requiring the Shareholder to pay the Company a specified sum of money (a “call”) which is payable to the Company by that Shareholder when the Directors decide to send the Call Notice.

 

33.2	A Call Notice:

 

(a)

may not require a Shareholder to pay a call which exceeds the total sum unpaid on that Shareholder’s Shares (whether as to the Share’s nominal value or any sum payable to the Company by way of premium);

 

(b)

shall state when and how any call to which it relates it is to be paid; and

 

49

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(c)

may permit or require the call to be paid by instalments.

 

33.3	A Shareholder shall comply with the requirements of a Call Notice, but no Shareholder shall be obliged to pay any call before 14 days have passed since the notice was sent.

 

33.4	Before the Company has received any call due under a Call Notice the Directors may:

 

(a)

revoke it wholly or in part; or

 

(b)

specify a later time for payment than is specified in the Call Notice, by a further notice in writing to the Shareholder in respect of whose Shares the call is made.

 

33.5	Liability to pay a call shall not be extinguished or transferred by transferring the Shares in respect of which it is required to be paid. Joint holders of a Share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect of that Share.

 

33.6	Subject to the terms on which Shares are allotted, the Directors may, when issuing Shares, provide that Call Notices sent to the holders of those Shares may require them to:

 

(a)

pay calls which are not the same; or

 

(b)

pay calls at different times.

 

33.7	A Call Notice need not be issued in respect of sums which are specified, in the terms on which a Share is issued, as being payable to the Company in respect of that Share (whether in respect of nominal value or premium):

 

(a)

on allotment;

 

(b)

on the occurrence of a particular event; or

 

(c)

on a date fixed by or in accordance with the terms of issue.

 

33.8

If the due date for payment of such a sum as referred to in Article 33.7 has passed and it has not been paid, the holder of the Share concerned shall be treated in all respects as having failed to comply with a Call Notice in respect of that sum, and shall be liable to the same consequences as regards the payment of interest and forfeiture.

 

33.9	If a person is liable to pay a call and fails to do so by the Call Payment Date (as defined below):

 

(a)

the Directors may issue a notice of intended forfeiture to that person; and

 

(b)

until the call is paid, that person shall be required to pay the Company interest on the call from the call payment date at the Relevant Rate (as defined below).

 

50

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33.10

For the purposes of Article 33.9:

 

(a)

the “Call Payment Date” shall be the time when the call notice states that a call is payable, unless the Directors give a notice specifying a later date, in which case the “Call Payment Date” is that later date;

 

(b)

the “Relevant Rate” shall be:

 

(i)

the rate fixed by the terms on which the Share in respect of which the call is due was allotted;

 

(ii)

such other rate as was fixed in the Call Notice which required payment of the call, or has otherwise been determined by the Directors; or

 

(iii)

if no rate is fixed in either of these ways, five per cent. a year,

 

provided that the Relevant Rate shall not exceed by more than five percentage points the base lending rate most recently set by the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England in connection with its responsibilities under Part 2 of the Bank of England Act 1998(a).

 

33.11

The Directors may waive any obligation to pay interest on a call wholly or in part.

 

33.12

The Directors may accept full payment of any unpaid sum in respect of a Share despite payment not being called under a Call Notice.

 

34.	Forfeiture of Shares

 

34.1	A notice of intended forfeiture:

 

(a)

may be sent in respect of any Share in respect of which a call has not been paid as required by a Call Notice;

 

(b)

shall be sent to the holder of that Share or to a person entitled to it by reason of the holder’s death, bankruptcy or otherwise;

 

(c)

shall require payment of the call and any accrued interest [and all expenses that may have been incurred by the Company by reason of such non-payment] by a date which is not fewer than 14 days after the date of the notice;

 

(d)

shall state how the payment is to be made; and

 

(e)

shall state that if the notice is not complied with, the Shares in respect of which the call is payable will be liable to be forfeited.

 

34.2

If a notice of intended forfeiture is not complied with before the date by which payment of the call is required in the notice of intended forfeiture, then the Directors may decide that any Share in respect of which it was given is forfeited, and the forfeiture is to include all dividends or other moneys payable in respect of the forfeited Shares and not paid before the forfeiture.

 

51

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34.3	Subject to these Articles, the forfeiture of a Share extinguishes:

 

(a)

all interests in that Share, and all claims and demands against the Company in respect of it; and

 

(b)

all other rights and liabilities incidental to the Share as between the person whose Share it was prior to the forfeiture and the Company.

 

34.4	Any Share which is forfeited in accordance with these Articles:

 

(a)

shall be deemed to have been forfeited when the Directors decide that it is forfeited;

 

(b)

shall be deemed to be the property of the Company; and

 

(c)

may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of as the Directors think fit.

 

34.5	If a person’s Shares have been forfeited then:

 

(a)

the Company shall send that person notice that forfeiture has occurred and record it in the register of members;

 

(b)

that person shall cease to be a Shareholder in respect of those Shares;

 

(c)

that person shall surrender the certificate for the Shares forfeited to the Company for cancellation;

 

(d)

that person shall remain liable to the Company for all sums payable by that person under the Articles at the date of forfeiture in respect of those Shares, including any interest (whether accrued before or after the date of forfeiture); and

 

(e)

the Directors shall be entitled to waive payment of such sums wholly or in part or enforce payment without any allowance for the value of the Shares at the time of forfeiture or for any consideration received on their disposal.

 

34.6	At any time before the Company disposes of a forfeited Share, the Directors shall be entitled to decide to cancel the forfeiture on payment of all calls and interest [and expenses] due in respect of it and on such other terms as they think fit.

 

34.7	If a forfeited Share is to be disposed of by being transferred, the Company shall be entitled to receive the consideration for the transfer and the Directors shall be entitled to authorise any person to execute the instrument of transfer.

 

34.8	A statutory declaration by a Director or the company secretary that the declarant is a Director or the company secretary and that a Share has been forfeited on a specified date:

 

52

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(a)

shall be conclusive evidence of the facts stated in it as against all persons claiming to be entitled to the Share; and

 

(b)

subject to compliance with any other formalities of transfer required by the Articles or by law, constitutes a good title to the Share.

 

34.9	A person to whom a forfeited Share is transferred shall not be bound to see to the application of the consideration (if any) nor shall that person’s title to the Share be affected by any irregularity in or invalidity of the process leading to the forfeiture or transfer of the Share.

 

34.10

If the Company sells a forfeited Share, the person who held it prior to its forfeiture shall be entitled to receive the proceeds of such sale from the Company, net of any commission, and excluding any sum which:

 

(a)

was, or would have become, payable; and

 

(b)

had not, when that Share was forfeited, been paid by that person in respect of that Share,

 

but no interest shall be payable to such a person in respect of such proceeds and the Company shall not be required to account for any money earned on such proceeds.

 

35.	Surrender of Shares

 

35.1	A Shareholder shall be entitled to surrender any Share:

 

(a)

in respect of which the Directors issue a notice of intended forfeiture;

 

(b)

which the Directors forfeit; or

 

(c)

which has been forfeited.

 

The Directors shall be entitled to accept the surrender of any such Share.

 

35.2	The effect of surrender on a Share shall be the same as the effect of forfeiture on that Share.

 

35.3	The Company shall be entitled to deal with a Share which has been surrendered in the same way as a Share which has been forfeited.

 

53

Exhibit 3.2

THE COMPANIES ACT 2006

COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES

NEW

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

of

NUCANA PLC

(Adopted by a special resolution passed on 30 March 2014 and

as amended by special resolution passed on 28 August 2017)

---

Index

 

Clause No.				Page No.
1.		Introduction			2
2.		Definitions			2
3.		Share capital			10
4.		Dividends			11
5.		Votes in general meeting			11
6.		Conversion of Series A Shares, Series B Shares, Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and Founder Ordinary 2 Shares			11
7.		Anti-Dilution protection			14
8.		Variation of rights			15
9.		Allotment of new shares or other securities: pre-emption			16
10.		Transfers of Shares – general			17
11.		Permitted Transfers			19
12.		Transfers of Shares subject to pre-emption rights			21
13.		Valuation of Shares			24
14.		Compulsory transfers – general			26
15.		Compulsory transfer – employees			26
16.		Mandatory Offer on a Change of Control			27
17.		Not Used			28
18.		Drag-along			28
19.		General meetings			30
20.		Proxies			30
21.		Directors’ borrowing powers			31
22.		Alternate Directors			31
23.		Number of Directors			32
24.		Appointment of Directors			32
25.		Disqualification of Directors			33
26.		Proceedings of Directors			33
27.		Directors’ interests			34
28.		Notices			38
29.		Indemnities and insurance			40
30.		Data Protection			41
31.		Secretary			41
32.		Lien			41
33.		Call Notices			43
34.		Forfeiture of Shares			44
35.		Surrender of Shares			46

 

1

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THE COMPANIES ACT 2006

COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES

NEW

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

of

NUCANA PLC

(Adopted by a special resolution passed on 31 March 2014 and

as amended by special resolution passed on 28 August 2017)

 

1.	Introduction

 

1.1

The model articles for private companies limited by shares contained or incorporated in Schedule 1 to the Companies (Model Articles) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/3229) as amended prior to the date of adoption of these articles (the “Model Articles”) shall apply to the Company, save insofar as they are varied or excluded by, or are inconsistent with, the following Articles.

 

1.2	Table A in the Schedule to the Companies (Tables A to F) Regulations 1985 (as amended) (“Table A”) shall not apply to the Company.

 

1.3	In these Articles and the Model Articles any reference to any statutory provision shall be deemed to include a reference to each and every statutory amendment, modification, re-enactment and extension thereof for the time being in force.

 

1.4	In these Articles:

 

(a)

article headings are used for convenience only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of these Articles;

 

(b)

words denoting the singular include the plural and vice versa and reference to one gender includes the other gender and neuter and vice versa; and

 

(c)

Articles 8(2), 9(4), 10(3), 11(2), 13, 14, 17(2), 17(3), 19, 21, 26(5), 27, 28, 29, 30(5) to (7) (inclusive), 44(4), 51, 52 and 53 of the Model Articles shall not apply to the Company.

 

1.5	If any Article (or part thereof) is or becomes inconsistent with any laws or regulations of any country to which the affairs of the Company are subject, such laws or regulations shall prevail and the relevant Article (or part thereof) shall be construed accordingly.

 

2.	Definitions

In these Articles the following words and expressions shall have the following meanings:

“Act” means the Companies Act 2006 (as amended from time to time);

 

2

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“Acting in Concert” has the meaning given to it in The City Code on Takeovers and Mergers published by the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers (as amended from time to time);

“Alida” means Alida Capital International Limited a company limited by guarantee incorporated in Scotland (registered number SC361482) and having its registered office at 10 Lochside Place, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH12 9RG;

“Alida Group” means Alida and each of Hugh Griffith, Christopher Wood, Codale Limited, Frank V. Sica, Castle View International Holdings Limited, Moira Adamson, Benjamin White, Maria McGuigan, Ian Abercrombie, Stuart Smith and Gavin Vinson and “member of the Alida Group” shall be construed accordingly;

“Anti-Dilution Shares” shall have the meaning given in Article 7.1;

“Associate” in relation to any person means:

 

(a)

any person who is an associate of that person and the question of whether a person is an associate of another is to be determined in accordance with section 435 of the Insolvency Act 1986 and (whether or not an associate as so determined);

 

(b)

any Member of the same Group;

 

(c)

any Member of the same Fund Group;

“Auditors” means the auditors of the Company from time to time;

“Available Profits” means profits available for distribution within the meaning of part 23 of the Act;

“Bad Leaver” means a person who ceases to be an Employee, (and who is not a Leaver or a Good Leaver) where such cessation of employment, directorship or consultancy occurs in circumstances where the Employee has their contract of service or employment terminated by reason of any fraud or gross misconduct;

“Board” means the board of Directors and any committee of the board constituted for the purpose of taking any action or decision contemplated by these Articles;

“Bonus Issue” or “Reorganisation” means any return of capital, bonus issue of shares of the Company by way of capitalisation of reserves (other than a capitalisation issue or other securities in substitution for or as an alternative to a cash dividend which is made available to the Series A Shareholders and the Series B Shareholders) or any consolidation or sub-division or any repurchase or redemption of shares in each case other than shares issued as a result of the events set out in Article 9.6;

“Business Day” means a day on which English clearing banks are ordinarily open for the transaction of normal banking business in the City of London (other than a Saturday or Sunday);

“Civil Partner” means in relation to a Shareholder, a civil partner (as defined in the Civil Partnership Act 2004) of the Shareholder;

“Commencement Date” means the date the relevant Employee commences his employment with the Company;

“Company” means NuCana plc (Company Number 03308778);

 

3

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“Company’s Lien” has the meaning given in Article 32.1;

“Controlling Interest” means an interest in shares giving to the holder or holders control of the Company within the meaning of section 1124 of the CTA 2010;

“Conversion Date” has the meaning given in Article 6.1;

“CTA 2010” means the Corporation Tax Act 2010;

“Date of Adoption” means 30 March 2014;

“Director(s)” means a director or directors of the Company from time to time;

“Effective Termination Date” means the date on which the Employee’s employment or consultancy terminates;

“electronic address” has the same meaning as in section 333 of the Act;

“electronic form” and “electronic means” have the same meaning as in section 1168 of the Act;

“Eligible Director” means a Director who would be entitled to vote on a matter had it been proposed as a resolution at a meeting of the Directors;

“Employee” means an individual who is employed by or who provides consultancy services to, the Company or any member of the Group;

“Employee Share Option Plan(s)” means the employee share option plan(s) of the Company in place at the Date of Adoption and any further plans provided the terms of such further plans have been approved by an Investor Majority;

“Employee Shares” in relation to an Employee means, save as set out below, all Ordinary Shares in the Company issued after 22 November 2011 and held by:

 

(a)

the Employee in question; and

 

(b)

by any Permitted Transferee of that Employee other than those Ordinary Shares held by those persons that the Board acting with Investor Director Consent declares itself satisfied were not acquired directly or indirectly from the Employee or by reason of his relationship with the Employee

which definition shall for the avoidance of doubt not include Shares falling within any of the following classes, (i) Shares held prior to 22 November 2011 by any Employee (which shall include the Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and Founder Ordinary 2 Shares); and/or (ii) any shares acquired after 22 November 2011 which are derived from Shares held prior to 22 November 2011 pursuant to any Bonus Issue or Reorganisation; and/or (iii) any Shares acquired after 22 November 2011 for Fair Value or more; and/or (iv) any Shares acquired pursuant to options exercised under rights held under the Existing Option Plan where such rights were granted prior to 22 November 2011 (notwithstanding whether such option rights are exercised or exercisable at 22 November 2011 or the Effective Termination Date) (any such Shares as described in this subparagraph (iv) being “Existing Option Shares”);

“Encumbrance” means any mortgage, charge, security, interest, lien, pledge, assignment by way of security, equity, claim, right of pre-emption, option, covenant, restriction, reservation, lease, trust, order, decree, judgment, title defect (including without limitation any retention of title claim), conflicting claim of ownership or any other encumbrance of any nature whatsoever (whether or not perfected other than liens arising by operation of law);

 

4

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“Equity Shares” means the Shares;

“Exercising Investor” means any Investor who exercises its rights to acquire Anti-Dilution Shares in accordance with Article 7.1;

“Existing Option Plan” means the option plan of the Company in place at the Date of Adoption providing for options over 12,136,364 Ordinary Shares;

“Existing Option Shares” means those Shares falling within subparagraph (iv) only of the classes of Shares which are excluded from the definition of “Employee Shares” and which, in relation to an Employee, would have been “Employee Shares” pursuant to the terms of that definition had they not been so excluded from that definition as set out in these Articles;

“Expert Valuer” is as determined in accordance with Article 13.2;

“Family Trusts” means as regards any particular individual member or deceased or former individual member, trusts (whether arising under a settlement, declaration of trust or other instrument by whomsoever or wheresoever made or under a testamentary disposition or on an intestacy) under which no immediate beneficial interest in any of the shares in question is for the time being vested in any person other than the individual and/or Privileged Relations of that individual; and so that for this purpose a person shall be considered to be beneficially interested in a share if such share or the income thereof is liable to be transferred or paid or applied or appointed to or for the benefit of such person or any voting or other rights attaching thereto are exercisable by or as directed by such person pursuant to the terms of the relevant trusts or in consequence of an exercise of a power or discretion conferred thereby on any person or persons;

“Fair Value” is as determined in accordance with Article 13.3;

“Financial Institution” any Financial Services Authority registered financial investor (or a financial investor registered with the equivalent body or authority in the country of the relevant financial investor’s principal place of business);

“Financial Year” and “Financial Period” means an accounting reference period (as defined by the Act) of the Company;

“Founder Ordinary 1 Shares” means the founder ordinary 1 shares of £0.01 each (or such other nominal value as may, from time to time, result from a consolidation or subdivision of such founder ordinary 1 shares) in the capital of the Company;

“Founder Ordinary 2 Shares” means the founder ordinary 2 shares of £0.01 (or such other nominal value as may, from time to time, result from a consolidation or subdivision of such founder ordinary 2 shares) each in the capital of the Company;

“Founder Ordinary 1 Shareholders” means the holders of the Founder Ordinary 1 Shares;

“Founder Ordinary 2 Shareholders” means the holders of the Founder Ordinary 2 Shares;

“Fund Manager” means a person whose principal business is to make, manage or advise upon investments in securities;

“Good Leaver” means a person who ceases to be an Employee (and who is not a Leaver or a Bad Leaver) where such cessation of employment, directorship or consultancy occurs in circumstances where the Employee has their contract of service or employment terminated by reason of any of: –

 

5

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(a)

death;

 

(b)

permanent incapacity;

 

(c)

without cause or otherwise in breach by the Company of the terms of their contract of service or employment or;

 

(d)

the Board, acting with Investor Director Consent, determines that such person should be a Good Leaver.

“Group” means the Company and its Subsidiary Undertaking(s) (if any) from time to time and “Group Company” shall be construed accordingly;

“hard copy form” has the same meaning as in section 1168 of the Act;

“Holding Company” means a newly formed holding company, pursuant to which the membership, pro rata shareholdings and classes of shares comprised in such holding company matches that of the Company immediately prior to the transfer of the issued share capital of the Company to such holding company;

“Institutional Investor” means a fund, partnership, body corporate, trust or other person or entity whose principal business is to make investments or a person whose business is to make, manage or advise upon investments for any of the foregoing;

“Investment Agreement” means the investment agreement dated on or around the Date of Adoption between, amongst others, the Company and the Investors;

“Investors” means the subscribers of Series A Shares and Series B Shares prior to, on or around the Date of Adoption;

“Investor Director Consent” means the prior written consent of the majority of the Investor Directors and if any of Sofinnova Ventures, Sofinnova Partners or Morningside has not appointed an Investor Director, then the prior written consent of the Investor Directors who are appointed and if none of Sofinnova Ventures, Sofinnova Partners or Morningside has appointed an Investor Director, the consent of the Investor Majority in all cases such consent not to be unreasonably withheld;

“Investor Directors” means the directors of the Company nominated by Sofinnova Partners in terms of Article 24.1, by Sofinnova Ventures in terms of Article 24.2 and by Morningside in terms of Article 24.3 and “Investor Director” shall mean any one of them (as the context permits);

“Investor Fund Manager” means a Fund Manager which advises or manages an Investor;

“Investor Majority” means the consent of the holders of not less than (i) 60% of the Series A Shares; and (ii) 60% of the Series B Shares;

“Investor Majority Consent” means the prior written consent of the Investor Majority;

“IPO” means the first public offering of all or any of the Shares or securities representing those shares (including without limitation depositary interests, American depositary receipts, American depositary shares and/or other instruments) on Nasdaq, the New York Stock Exchange, the AIM Market operated by the London Stock Exchange Plc or any other recognised investment exchange (as defined in section 285 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000);

“ITEPA” means Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003;

 

6

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“Leaver” means a person who ceases to be an Employee at any time and who is not a Bad Leaver or a Good Leaver;

“Lien Enforcement Notice” has the meaning given in Article 32.3;

“a Member of the same Fund Group” means if the Shareholder is a fund, partnership, company, syndicate or other entity whose business is managed by a Fund Manager (an “Investment Fund”) or a nominee of that person:

 

(a)

any participant or partner (including without limitation a limited partner) in or member of any such Investment Fund or the holders of any unit trust which is a participant or partner in or member of any Investment Fund (but only in connection with the dissolution of investment Fund or any distribution of assets of the Investment Fund pursuant to the operation of the Investment Fund in the ordinary course of business);

 

(b)

any Investment Fund managed or advised by that Fund Manager;

 

(c)

any Parent Undertaking or Subsidiary Undertaking of that Fund Manager, or any Subsidiary Undertaking of any Parent Undertaking of that Fund Manager; or

 

(d)

any trustee, nominee or custodian of such Investment Fund and vice versa;

“a Member of the same Group” means as regards any company, a company which is from time to time a Parent Undertaking or a Subsidiary Undertaking of that company or a Subsidiary Undertaking of any such Parent Undertaking;

“Morningside” means Morningside Venture Investments Limited a company having its place of business at c/o THC Management Services S.A.M., 2^nd Floor, Le Prince de Galles, 3 – 5 Avenue des Citronniers MC 98000, Monaco;

“Nasdaq” means the Nasdaq National Stock Market of the Nasdaq OMX Group Inc.;

“New Securities” means any shares or other securities convertible into, or carrying the right to subscribe for, shares issued by the Company after the Date of Adoption forming part of its equity share capital (as that term is defined in section 548 of the Act) other than (i) shares issued as a result of the events or pursuant to rights set out in Article 9.6; and/or (ii) for the purposes of Article 7 only any shares issued by way of a capitalisation issue or Bonus Issue or Reorganisation; which, in each case, shall not be New Securities;

“Offer” has the meaning set out in 16.2;

“Offer Period” has the meaning set out in Article 16.3;

“Ordinary Shareholders” means the holders from time to time of the Ordinary Shares provided that a member may hold Ordinary Shares, Series A Shares and Series B Shares and be defined as both an Investor and an Ordinary Shareholder;

“Ordinary Shares” means the ordinary shares of £0.01 each (or such other nominal value as may, from time to time, result from a consolidation or subdivision of such ordinary shares) in the capital of the Company and such expression shall be deemed in these Articles (save in the case of Article 3.2 and 6) to include the Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and the Founder Ordinary 2 Shares;

“Permitted Transfer” means a transfer of Shares in accordance with Article 11;

“Permitted Transferee” means:

 

7

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(a)

in relation to a Shareholder who is an individual, any of his Privileged Relations or Trustees;

 

(b)

in relation to a Shareholder which is an undertaking (as defined in section 1161(1) of the Act) means any Member of the same Group;

 

(c)

in relation to a Shareholder which is an Investment Fund means any Member of the same Fund Group;

 

(d)

in relation to an Investor:

 

(i)

to any Member of the same Group;

 

(ii)

to any Member of the same Fund Group;

 

(iii)

to any other Investor;

 

(iv)

to any Financial Institution or institutional Investor;

 

(v)

or to any nominee of an Investor;

 

(e)

in relation to any member of the Scottish Enterprise Group any other member of the Scottish Enterprise Group;

 

(f)

in relation to any member of the Alida Group to any other member of the Alida Group provided that any member of the Alida Group who is an Employee may not while they remain an Employee reduce their holding of Shares below the holding they hold at the Date of Adoption under this provision; and

 

(g)

any trust settled by the Company for the purpose of Employee Share Option Plan(s), provided that both the trust and the transfer have been approved in writing by the Board of the Company and have received Investor Majority Consent, and any option holder holding options under the Employee Share Option Plan(s) over Shares held by such a trust.

“Priority Rights” means the rights of Shareholders to purchase Shares contained in a Transfer Notice in the priority stipulated in Article 12.6 or Article 15.2 (as the case may be);

“Privileged Relation” in relation to a Shareholder who is an individual member or deceased or former member means a spouse, Civil Partner, child or grandchild (including step or adopted or illegitimate child and their issue);

“Proposed Purchaser” means a proposed purchaser who at the relevant time has made an offer on arm’s length terms and who is not a Permitted Transferee of a Shareholder;

“Proposed Sale Date” has the meaning given in Article 16.3;

“Proposed Sale Notice” has the meaning given in Article 16.3;

“Proposed Sale Shares” has the meaning given in Article 16.3;

“Proposed Seller” means any person proposing to transfer any shares in the capital of the Company;

“Proposed Transfer” has the meaning given in Article 16.1;

“Qualifying Person” has the meaning given in section 318(3) of the Act;

 

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“Relevant Interest” has the meaning set out in Article 27.5;

“Relevant Period” means 36 months from the Commencement Date;

“Sale Shares” has the meaning set out in Article 12.2(a) of these Articles;

“Scottish Enterprise” means Scottish Enterprise, established under the Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990 and having its principal place of business at Atrium Court, 50 Waterloo Street, Glasgow, G2 6HQ;

“Scottish Enterprise Group” means Scottish Enterprise, any subsidiary for the time being of Scottish Enterprise and any company, corporation or other body of persons which shall have acquired the whole or substantially the whole of the undertaking of Scottish Enterprise or any subsidiary of such company, corporation or body and any other body to which the statutory functions of Scottish Enterprise have been transferred or delegated or a Scottish Enterprise Successor and the expression “member of the Scottish Enterprise Group” shall be construed accordingly; and

“Scottish Enterprise Successor” means any party succeeding in whole or in part to the interest of Scottish Enterprise;

“Seller” has the meaning set out in Article 12.2 of these Articles;

“Series A Shares” means the series A Convertible Participating Shares of £0.01 each (or such other nominal value as may, from time to time, result from a consolidation or subdivision of such series A Convertible Participating Shares) in the capital of the Company;

“Series B Shares” means the series B Convertible Participating Shares of £0.001 each or such other nominal value as may, from time to time, result from a consolidation or subdivision of such series B Convertible Participating Shares) in the capital of the Company;

“Series A Shareholders” means the holders of the Series A Shares;

“Series B Shareholders” means the holders of the Series B Shares;

“Shareholder” means any holder of any Shares;

“Shares” means the Ordinary Shares, the Series A Shares and the Series B Shares from time to time;

“Sofinnova Partners” means Sofinnova Capital VI FCPR, a French venture capital fund represented by its management company, Sofinnova Partners SAS, organised and existing under the laws of France, with registered office at Le Centorial, 16 – 18 rue du 4 Septembre – 75002 Paris;

“Sofinnova Ventures” means Sofinnova Venture Partners VIII, L.P. a limited partnership whose general partner is Sofinnova Management VIII, L.L.C.;

“Starting Price” means £1 (if applicable, adjusted as referred to in Article 7.3) in respect of each Series B Share;

“Subsidiary”, “Subsidiary Undertaking” and “Parent Undertaking” have the respective meanings set out in sections 1159 and 1162 of the Act;

“Transfer Notice” shall have the meaning given in Article 12.2;

 

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“Transfer Price” shall have the meaning given in Article 12.2(c); and

“Trustees” in relation to a Shareholder means the trustee or the trustees of a Family Trust;

 

3.	Share capital

 

3.1

In these Articles, unless the context requires otherwise, references to shares of a particular class shall include shares allotted and/or issued after the Date of Adoption and ranking pari passu in all respects (or in all respects except only as to the date from which those shares rank for dividend) with the shares of the relevant class then in issue.

 

3.2

Except as otherwise provided in these Articles, the Series A Shares, the Series B Shares, the Founder Ordinary 1 Shares, the Founder Ordinary 2 Shares and the Ordinary Shares (the term Ordinary Shares shall for the purposes of this Article 3.2 exclude the Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and the Founder Ordinary 2 Shares) shall rank pari passu in all respects but shall constitute separate classes of shares.

 

3.3	Whenever as a result of a consolidation or subdivision of Shares any Shareholders would become entitled to fractions of a Share, the Directors may:

 

(a)

on behalf of those Shareholders, sell the Shares representing the fractions for the best price reasonably obtainable to any person (including, subject to the provisions of the Act, the Company) and distribute the net proceeds of sale in due proportion among those Shareholders (save where any Shareholder’s entitlement to a portion of the proceeds of sale amounts to less than a minimum figure determined by the Directors, in which case that Shareholder’s portion may be distributed to an organisation which is a charity for the purposes of the law of England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland), and the Directors may authorise any person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Shares to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The transferee shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity in or invalidity of the proceedings in reference to the sale; and/or

 

(b)

subject to the provisions of the Act, issue to each such Shareholder, credited as fully paid up by way of capitalisation, the minimum number of Shares required to round up his holding to a whole number (such issue being deemed to have been effected immediately prior to consolidation) and the amount required to pay up such Shares shall be appropriated, at the discretion of the Directors, from any of the sums standing to the credit of any of the Company’s reserve accounts (including share premium account and capital redemption reserve) or to the credit of the profit and loss account (or income statement) and capitalised by applying the same in paying up such Shares.

 

3.4

When the Company sub-divides or consolidates all or any of its Shares, the Company may, subject to the Act and to these Articles, by ordinary resolution determine that, as between the Shares resulting from the sub-division or consolidation, any of them may have any preference or advantage or be subject to any restriction as compared with the others.

 

3.5	The words “and the directors may determine the terms, conditions and manner of redemption of any such shares” shall be deleted from article 22(2) of the Model Articles.

 

3.6	Paragraph (c) of article 24(2) of the Model Articles shall be amended by the replacement of the words “that the shares are fully paid; and” with the words “the amount paid up on them; and”.

 

3.7	In article 25(2) of the Model Articles, the words “payment of a reasonable fee as the directors decide” in paragraph (c) shall be deleted and replaced by the words “payment of the expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in investigating evidence as the directors may determine”.

 

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4.

Dividends

 

4.1	In respect of any Financial Year, the Company’s Available Profits will be applied as determined by the Board, acting with the Investor Director Consent.

 

4.2	Subject to the Act and these Articles, the Board may, provided Investor Majority Consent is given, pay interim dividends if justified by the Available Profits in respect of the relevant period.

 

5.	Votes in general meeting

 

5.1	The Series A Shares shall confer on each holder of Series A Shares the right to receive notice of and to attend, speak and vote at all general meetings of the Company.

 

5.2	The Series B Shares shall confer on each holder of Series B Shares the right to receive notice of and to attend, speak and vote at all general meetings of the Company.

 

5.3	The Ordinary Shares shall confer on each holder of Ordinary Shares the right to receive notice of and to attend, speak and vote at all general meetings of the Company.

 

5.4

Subject to Article 5.5 where Shares confer a right to vote, on a show of hands each holder of such shares who (being an individual) is present in person or by proxy or (being a corporation) is present by a duly authorised representative or by proxy shall have one vote and on a poll each such holder so present shall have one vote for each Share held by him.

 

5.5	Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles: –

 

•

the Founder Ordinary 1 Shares shall upon a poll as a class confer upon the holders thereof such number of votes which equals at least 5% of all votes exercisable by all holders of Shares; and

 

•

the Founder Ordinary 2 Shares shall upon a poll as a class confer upon the holders thereof such number of votes which equals at least 5% of all votes exercisable by all holders of Shares.

 

6.	Conversion of Series A Shares, Series B Shares, Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and Founder Ordinary 2 Shares

 

6.1

Any holder of Series A Shares, Series B Shares, Founder Ordinary 1 Shares or Founder Ordinary 2 Shares shall be entitled, by notice in writing to the Company, to require conversion into Ordinary Shares of all of the Series A Shares, Series B Shares, Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and/or Founder Ordinary 2 Shares held by them at any time and those shares shall convert automatically on the date of such notice (the “Conversion Date”). The holder may in such notice, state that conversion of its Series A Shares, Series B Shares, Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and/or Founder Ordinary 2 Shares into Ordinary Shares is conditional upon the occurrence of particular events (the “Conditions”).

 

6.2

All of the Series A Shares, Series B Shares, Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and Founder Ordinary 2 Shares shall automatically convert into Ordinary Shares immediately prior to the closing of an IPO or, (i) in respect of the Series A Shares only, at the request of the holders of not less than 60% of the issued Series A Shares; (ii) in respect of the Series B Shares only, at the request of the holders of not less than 60% of the issued Series B Shares; (iii) in respect of the Founder Ordinary 1 Shares only, at the request of the holders of not less than 60% of the issued Founder Ordinary 1 Shares; and (iv) in respect of the Founder Ordinary 2 Shares only, at the request of the holders of not less than 60% of the issued Founder Ordinary 2 Shares.

 

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6.3

In the case of (i) Article 6.1, at least five Business Days after the Conversion Date or (ii) in the case of Article 6.2, at least five Business Days prior to the closing of the IPO or relevant request being made, each holder of the relevant shares to be converted shall deliver the certificate (or an indemnity in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Board in respect of any lost certificate(s)) in respect of the shares being converted for such shares to the Company at its registered office for the time being.

 

6.4

Where conversion is mandatory on the closing of an IPO, that conversion will be effective only immediately prior to such IPO (and “Conversion Date” shall be construed accordingly) and, if such IPO does not become effective or does not take place, such conversion shall be deemed not to have occurred. In the event of a conversion under Article 6.1, if the Conditions have not been satisfied or waived by the relevant holder by the Conversion Date such conversion shall be deemed not to have occurred.

 

6.5

On the Conversion Date, the relevant Series A Shares, Series B Shares, Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and/or Founder Ordinary 2 Shares shall without further authority than is contained in these Articles stand converted into Ordinary Shares on the basis of one Ordinary Share for each Series A Share, one Ordinary Share for each Series B Share, one Ordinary Share for each Founder Ordinary 1 Share and one Ordinary Share for each Founder Ordinary 2 Share (the “Conversion Ratio”) held and the Ordinary Shares resulting from that conversion shall in all other respects rank pari passu with the existing issued Ordinary Shares.

 

6.6

Where Series B Shares are required to be converted on a one-for one basis into Ordinary Shares with a higher nominal value per share, the Directors shall be authorised to take all actions necessary to effect such conversion and in particular (but without prejudice to the foregoing) the Directors shall be authorised to:

 

(a)

(subject to the provisions of the Act) issue to each holder of Series B Shares an additional number of Series B Shares per share held, credited as fully paid up by way of capitalisation, with the amount required to pay up such Series B Shares to be appropriated, at the discretion of the Directors, from any of the sums standing to the credit of any of the Company’s reserve accounts (including share premium account and capital redemption reserve) or to the credit of the profit and loss account (or income statement) and capitalised by applying the same in paying up such shares; and

 

(b)

immediately thereafter consolidate, subdivide or consolidate and subdivide the Series B Shares in issue (including any additional Series B Shares issued pursuant to this Article 6.6) in order that the Series B Shares have the same nominal value as the Ordinary Shares.

 

6.7	The Conversion Ratio shall from time to time be adjusted in accordance with the provisions of this Article:

 

(a)

if Series A Shares, Series B Shares, Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and/or Founder Ordinary 2 Shares remain capable of being converted into new Ordinary Shares and there is a consolidation and/or sub-division of Ordinary Shares with no like consolidation and/or sub-division of the Series A Shares, Series B Shares, Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and/or Founder Ordinary 2 Shares, the Conversion Ratio shall be adjusted by an amount, which in the opinion of the Board (with Investor Majority Consent) is fair and reasonable, to maintain the right to convert so as to ensure that each Series A Shareholder, Series B Shareholder, Founder Ordinary 1 Shareholder and/or Founder Ordinary 2 Shareholder is in no better or worse position as a result of such consolidation or sub-division, such adjustment to become effective immediately after such consolidation or sub-division;

 

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(b)

if Series A Shares, Series B Shares, Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and/or Founder Ordinary 2 Shares remain capable of being converted into Ordinary Shares, on an allotment of fully-paid Ordinary Shares pursuant to a capitalisation of profits or reserves to holders of Ordinary Shares with no like allotment of fully-paid Shares pursuant to a capitalisation of profits or reserves to the holders of the Series A Shares, Series B Shares, Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and/or Founder Ordinary 2 Shares, the Conversion Ratio shall be adjusted by an amount, which in the opinion of the Board (with Investor Majority Consent) is fair and reasonable, to maintain the right to convert so as to ensure that each Series A Shareholder, Series B Shareholder, Founder Ordinary 1 Shareholder and/or Founder Ordinary 2 Shareholder is in no better or worse position as a result of such capitalisation of profits or reserves, such adjustment to become effective as at the record date for such issue.

 

6.8

If any Series A Shareholder, Series B Shareholder, Founder Ordinary 1 Shareholder and/or Founder Ordinary 2 Shareholder becomes entitled to fractions of an Ordinary Share as a result of conversion (“Fractional Holders”), the Directors may (in their absolute discretion) deal with these fractions as they think fit on behalf of the Fractional Holders. In particular, the Directors may aggregate and sell the fractions to a person for the best price reasonably obtainable and distribute the net proceeds of sale in due proportions among the Fractional Holders or may ignore fractions or accrue the benefit of such fractions to the Company rather than the member. For the purposes of completing any such sale of fractions, the chairman of the Company or, failing him, the secretary will be deemed to have been appointed the Fractional Holder’s agent for the purpose of the sale.

 

6.9

If a doubt or dispute arises concerning an adjustment of the Conversion Ratio in accordance with Article 6.7, or if so requested by an Investor Majority, the Board shall refer the matter to the Auditors for determination who shall make available to all Shareholders their report and whose certificate as to the amount of the adjustment is, in the absence of manifest error, conclusive and binding on all concerned and their costs shall be met by the Company.

 

6.10

The Company shall on the Conversion Date enter the holder of the converted Series A Shares, Series B Shares, Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and/or Founder Ordinary 2 Shares on the register of members of the Company as the holder of the appropriate number of Ordinary Shares and, subject to the relevant holder delivering its certificate(s) (or indemnity) in respect of the Series A Shares, Series B Shares, Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and/or Founder Ordinary 2 Shares in accordance with this Article, the Company shall within 10 Business Days of the Conversion Date forward to such holder of Series A Shares, Series B Shares, Founder Ordinary 1 Shares and/or Founder Ordinary 2 Shares by post to his address shown in the register of members, free of charge, a definitive certificate for the appropriate number of fully paid Ordinary Shares.

 

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7.	Anti-Dilution protection

 

7.1

If New Securities which are Shares are issued by the Company at a subscription price per New Security which equates to less than the Starting Price (a “Qualifying Issue”) (which in the event that the New Security is not issued for cash shall be a price certified by the Auditors acting as experts and not as arbitrators as being in their opinion the current cash value of the consideration for the allotment of the New Securities) then the Company shall, unless and to the extent that any of the holders of Series B Shares shall have specifically waived their rights under this Article in writing, offer (such offer, unless waived, to remain open for acceptance for not less than 15 Business Days) to each holder of Series B Shares (the “Exercising Investor”) the right to receive a number of new Series B Shares determined by applying the following formula (and rounding the product, N, down to the nearest whole share), subject to adjustment as certified in accordance with Article 7.3 (the “Anti-Dilution Shares”):

N = ((PIP/WA) x Z) – Z

Where:

 

N:

the number of Anti-Dilution Shares to be issued to the Exercising Investor.

 

DRP:

the price per share of the Qualifying Issue.

 

NS:

the number of New Securities issued pursuant to the Qualifying Issue.

 

PIP:

the Starting Price.

 

SC:

the number of shares in issue plus the aggregate number of shares in respect of which options to subscribe have been granted, or which are subject to convertible securities (including, but not limited to, warrants), in each case immediately prior to the Qualifying Issue.

 

WA:

(PIP x SC) + (DRP x NS)/ (SC + NS).

 

Z:

the number of Series B Shares held by the Exercising Investor before the Qualifying Issue.

 

7.2	The Anti-Dilution Shares shall:

 

(a)

be paid up by the automatic capitalisation of available reserves of the Company, unless and to the extent that the same shall be impossible or unlawful or a majority of the Exercising Investors shall agree otherwise, in which event the Exercising Investors shall be entitled to subscribe for the Anti-Dilution Shares in cash at par (being the par value approved in advance by the Board and the Investor Directors) and the entitlement of such Exercising Investors to Anti-Dilution Shares shall be increased by adjustment to the formula set out in Article 7.1 so that the Exercising Investors shall be in no worse position than if they had not so subscribed at par. In the event of any dispute between the Company and any Exercising Investor as to the effect of Article 7.1 or this Article 7.2, the matter shall be referred (at the cost of the parties as directed by the Auditor) to the Auditors for certification of the number of Anti-Dilution Shares to be issued. The Auditor’s certification of the matter shall in the absence of manifest error be final and binding on the Company and the Exercising Investor; and

 

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(b)

subject to the payment of any cash payable pursuant to Article 7.2(a) (if applicable), be issued, credited fully paid up in cash and shall rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Equity Shares, within five Business Days of the expiry of the offer being made by the Company to the Exercising Investor and pursuant to Article 7.2(a).

 

7.3

In the event of any Bonus Issue or Reorganisation, the Starting Price shall also be subject to adjustment on such basis as may be agreed by the Company with the Investor Majority both acting reasonably and in good faith within 10 Business Days after any Bonus Issue or Reorganisation. If the Company and the Investor Majority cannot agree such adjustment it shall be referred to the Auditors whose determination shall, in the absence of manifest error, be final and binding on the Company and each of its Shareholders. The costs of the Auditors shall be borne by the Company.

 

8.	Variation of rights

 

8.1

Whenever the share capital of the Company is divided into different classes of shares, the special rights attached to any such class may only be varied or abrogated (either whilst the Company is a going concern or during or in contemplation of a winding-up) with the consent in writing of the holders of more than 65% in nominal value of the issued shares of that class save that the special rights attaching to the Series A Shares and Series B Shares may only be varied or abrogated with Investor Majority Consent.

 

8.2	Without prejudice to the generality of Article 8.1, the special rights attaching to the Series A Shares, the Series B Shares and the Ordinary Shares shall be deemed to be varied by the occurrence of the following events:

 

(a)

the amendment or repeal of any provision of, or addition of any provision to the Articles;

 

(b)

the alteration of the authorised or issued share capital of the Company or creation of any securities other than as referred to in Article 9.6;

 

(c)

the reduction of the amount standing to the credit of the share premium account or capital redemption reserve other than as expressly provided for in these Articles;

 

(d)

the approval of any merger, liquidation, dissolution or acquisition of the Company or sale of all or a substantial part of the business, undertaking or assets of the Company;

 

(e)

the purchase by the Company of any Shares;

 

(f)

the acquisition of any shares or other securities;

 

(g)

the making of any bonus issue of shares or debenture stock other than as referred to in Article 9.6;

 

(h)

the entering into of a voluntary winding-up;

 

(i)

the transferring of any profits to reserves or otherwise (save in the ordinary course of business) and the taking of any action (excluding payment of dividends) which will raise or may reduce the amount of the profits of the Company available for distribution;

 

(j)

any member of the Group doing any of the events described in paragraphs (a) to (i) above;

 

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(k)

the Company or a member of the Group incurring any obligation to do any of the events described in paragraphs (a) to (i) above;

 

8.3	No voting rights attached to a share which is nil paid may be exercised at any general meeting, at any adjournment of it or at any poll called at or in relation to it unless all or some of the amounts payable to the Company in respect of that share have been paid.

 

9.	Allotment of new shares or other securities: pre-emption

 

9.1	Subject to the remaining provisions of this Article 9 and Article 8, the Directors are generally and unconditionally authorised for the purpose of section 551 of the Act to exercise any power of the Company to:

 

(a)

allot Shares; or

 

(b)

grant rights to subscribe for or convert any securities into Shares,

to any persons, at any times and subject to any terms and conditions as the Directors think proper, provided that:

 

(1)

this authority shall be limited to £760,769.20 in nominal value of shares including issued share capital of the Company immediately following the Date of Adoption;

 

(2)

this authority shall only apply insofar as the Company in general meeting has not waived or revoked it;

 

(3)

this authority may only be exercised for a period of five years commencing upon the Date of Adoption, save that the Directors may make an offer or agreement which would or might require Shares to be allotted or rights granted to subscribe for or convert any security into Shares after the expiry of such authority (and the Directors may allot Shares or grant such rights in pursuance of an offer or agreement as if such authority had not expired).

 

9.2

Not Used.

 

9.3

Where section 561 of the Act has been disapplied in respect of an allotment of New Securities, unless otherwise agreed by special resolution of each class of Share passed in general meeting (provided that the disapplication and/or waiver of any rights of pre-emption held by any member of the Scottish Enterprise Group under this Article 9.3 shall require their written consent), if the Company proposes to allot such New Securities those New Securities shall not be allotted to any person unless the Company has in the first instance offered them to the holders of Equity Shares on the same terms and at the same price as those New Securities are being offered to other persons on a pari passu and pro rata basis to the number of Shares held by those holders (as nearly as may be without involving fractions). The offer:

 

(a)

shall be in writing, give details of the number and subscription price of the New Securities; and

 

(b)

may stipulate that any Shareholder who wishes to subscribe for a number of New Securities in excess of the proportion to which each is entitled shall in their acceptance state the number of excess New Securities (“Excess Securities”) for which they wish to subscribe.

 

9.4

Any New Securities not accepted by Shareholders pursuant to the offer made to them in accordance with Article 9.3 shall be used for satisfying any requests for Excess Securities made pursuant to Article 9.3 in the first instance in relation to requests made by members holding Shares of the same class as the non accepting member and thereafter any

 

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remaining surplus, if any, to members holding Shares of a different class to the non accepting member and in the event that there are insufficient Excess Securities to satisfy such requests, the Excess Securities shall be allotted to the applicants on a pro rata basis to the number of the relevant class of Shares held by the applicants immediately prior to the offer made to Shareholders in accordance with Article 9.3 (as nearly as may be without involving fractions or increasing the number allotted to any Shareholder beyond that applied for by him) and after that allotment, any Excess Securities remaining shall be offered, subject to Article 9.5, to any other person as the Directors may determine at the same price and on the same terms as the offer to the Shareholders.

 

9.5	Subject to Articles 9.3 and 9.4 and to the provisions of section 551 of the Act, any New Securities shall be at the disposal of the Board who may allot, grant options over or otherwise dispose of them to any persons at those times and generally on the terms and conditions they think proper.

 

9.6	The provisions of Articles 9.3 to 9.5 shall not apply to:

 

(a)

options to subscribe for Shares under the Employee Share Option Plans or any Shares issued thereunder;

 

(b)

New Securities issued or granted in order for the Company to comply with its obligations under these Articles including, but not limited to the Anti-Dilution Shares;

 

(c)

New Securities issued as a result of a bonus issue of shares which has been approved in writing by an Investor Majority;

 

(d)

Shares or options for Shares issued or granted to the Investors in accordance with the terms of the Investment Agreement;

 

(e)

Series B Shares issued in accordance with Article 6.6; and

 

(f)

Shares (or fractions thereof) issued in accordance with Article 3.3.

 

9.7	No Shares shall be allotted to any Employee, Director, prospective Employee or prospective director of the Company unless such person has entered into a joint section 431 ITEPA election with the Company.

 

10.	Transfers of Shares – general

 

10.1	In Articles 10 to 18 inclusive, reference to the transfer of a Share includes the transfer or assignment of a beneficial or other interest in that Share or the creation of a trust or Encumbrance over that Share and reference to a Share includes a beneficial or other interest in a Share.

 

10.2	No Share may be transferred unless the transfer is made in accordance with these Articles.

 

10.3	If a Shareholder transfers or purports to transfer a Share otherwise than in accordance with these Articles he will be deemed immediately to have served a Transfer Notice in respect of all Shares held by him.

 

10.4	Any transfer of a Share by way of sale which is required to be made under Articles 12 to 18 (inclusive) will be deemed to include a warranty that the transferor sells with full title guarantee.

 

10.5	The Directors may refuse to register a transfer if:

 

(a)

it is a transfer of a Share to a bankrupt, a minor or a person of unsound mind;

 

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(b)

the transfer is to an Employee, Director or prospective Employee or prospective director of the Company and such person has not entered in a joint section 431 ITEPA election with the Company;

 

(c)

it is a transfer of a Share which is not fully paid:

 

(i)

to a person of whom the Directors do not approve; or

 

(ii)

on which Share the Company has a lien;

 

(d)

the transfer is not lodged at the registered office or at such other place as the Directors may appoint;

 

(e)

the transfer is not accompanied by the certificate for the Shares to which it relates and such other evidence as the Directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer;

 

(f)

the transfer is in respect of more than one class of Shares; or

 

(g)

the transfer is in favour of more than four transferees.

If the Directors refuse to register a transfer, the instrument of transfer must be returned to the transferee with the notice of refusal unless they suspect that the proposed transfer may be fraudulent.

 

10.6

The Directors may, as a condition to the registration of any transfer of shares in the Company (whether pursuant to a Permitted Transfer or otherwise), require the transferee to execute and deliver to the Company a deed agreeing to be bound by the terms of the Investment Agreement or any other shareholders’ agreement or similar document in force between some or all of the Shareholders and the Company in any form as the Directors may reasonably require (but not so as to oblige the transferee to have any obligations or liabilities greater than those of the proposed transferor under any such agreement or other document) and if any condition is imposed in accordance with this Article 10.6 the transfer may not be registered unless that deed has been executed and delivered to the Company’s registered office by the transferee.

 

10.7

To enable the Directors to determine whether or not there has been any disposal of shares in the capital of the Company (or any interest in shares in the capital of the Company) in breach of these Articles the Directors may require any holder or the legal personal representatives of any deceased holder or any person named as transferee in any transfer lodged for registration or any other person who the Directors or the Investor Directors may reasonably believe to have information relevant to that purpose, to furnish to the Company that information and evidence the Directors may request regarding any matter which they deem relevant to that purpose, including (but not limited to) the names, addresses and interests of all persons respectively having interests in the shares in the capital of the Company from time to time registered in the holder’s name. If the information or evidence is not provided to enable the Directors to determine to their reasonable satisfaction that no breach has occurred, or where as a result of the information and evidence the Directors are reasonably satisfied that a breach has occurred, the Directors shall immediately notify the holder of such shares in the capital of the Company in writing of that fact and the following shall occur:

 

(a)

the relevant shares shall cease to confer upon the holder of them (including any proxy appointed by the holder) any rights:

 

(i)

to vote (whether on a show of hands or on a poll and whether exercisable at a general meeting or at any separate meeting of the class in question) provided that such rights shall not cease if as a result of such cessation the Company shall become a Subsidiary of an Investor; or

 

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(ii)

to receive dividends or other distributions (other than the amount they may be entitled to pursuant to the application of Article 4.2) otherwise attaching to those shares or to any further shares issued in respect of those shares; and

 

(b)

the holder may be required at any time following receipt of the notice to transfer some or all of its Shares to any person(s) at the price representing Fair Value for such Shares.

The rights referred to in (a) above may be reinstated by the Board subject to Investor Director Consent and shall in any event be reinstated upon the completion of any transfer referred to in (b) above.

 

10.8

In any case where the Board requires a Transfer Notice to be given in respect of any Shares, if a Transfer Notice is not duly given within a period of 10 Business Days of demand being made, a Transfer Notice shall be deemed to have been given at the expiration of that period. If a Transfer Notice is required to be given or is deemed to have been given under these Articles, the Transfer Notice will be treated as having specified that:

 

(a)

the Transfer Price for the Sale Shares will be as agreed between the Board (any director with whom the Seller is connected (within the meaning of section 252 of the Act) not voting) and the Seller, or, failing agreement within five Business Days after the date on which the Board becomes aware that a Transfer Notice has been deemed to have been given, will be the Fair Value of the Sale Shares;

 

(b)

it does not include a Minimum Transfer Condition (as defined in Article 12.2(d)); and

 

(c)

the Seller wishes to transfer all of the Shares held by it.

 

10.9	Shares may be transferred by means of an instrument of transfer in any usual form or any other form approved by the directors, which is executed by or on behalf of:

 

(a)

the transferor; and

 

(b)

(if any of the shares is partly or nil paid) the transferee.

 

11.	Permitted Transfers

 

11.1	A Shareholder (the “Original Shareholder”) may transfer all or any of his or its Shares to a Permitted Transferee and/or on and following an IPO (subject to any agreed upon lock-up) without restriction as to price or otherwise.

 

11.2

Where under the provision of a deceased Shareholder’s will or laws as to intestacy, the persons legally or beneficially entitled to any Shares, whether immediately or contingently, are Permitted Transferees of the deceased Shareholder, the legal representative of the deceased Shareholder may transfer any Share to those Permitted Transferees, in each case without restriction as to price or otherwise. Shares previously transferred as permitted by this Article 11.2 may be transferred by the transferee to any other Permitted Transferee of the Original Shareholder without restriction as to price or otherwise.

 

11.3	If a Permitted Transferee who was a Member of the same Group as the Original Shareholder ceases to be a Member of the same Group as the Original Shareholder, the Permitted Transferee must not later than five Business Days after the date on which the

 

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Permitted Transferee so ceases, transfer the Shares held by it to the Original Shareholder or a Member of the same Group as the Original Shareholder (which in either case is not in liquidation) without restriction as to price or otherwise failing which it will be deemed to have given a Transfer Notice in respect of those Shares.

 

11.4

If a Permitted Transferee who was a Member of the same Fund Group as the Original Shareholder ceases to be a Member of the same Fund Group, the Permitted Transferee must not later than five Business Days after the date on which the Permitted Transferee so ceases, transfer the Shares held by it to the Original Shareholder or a Member of the same Fund Group as the Original Shareholder (which in either case is not in liquidation) without restriction as to price or otherwise failing which it will be deemed to give a Transfer Notice in respect of such Shares.

 

11.5

Trustees may (i) transfer Shares to a company in which they hold the whole of the share capital and which they control (a “Qualifying Company”) or (ii) transfer Shares to the Original Shareholder or to another Permitted Transferee of the Original Shareholder or (iii) transfer Shares to the new or remaining trustees upon a change of Trustees without restrictions as to price or otherwise.

 

11.6	No transfer of Shares may be made to Trustees unless the Board is satisfied:

 

(a)

with the terms of the trust instrument and in particular with the powers of the trustees;

 

(b)

with the identity of the proposed trustees;

 

(c)

the proposed transfer will not result in 50% or more of the aggregate of the Company’s equity share capital being held by trustees of that and any other trusts; and

 

(d)

that no costs incurred in connection with the setting up or administration of the Family Trust in question are to be paid by the Company.

 

11.7

If a company to which a Share has been transferred under Article 11.5, ceases to be a Qualifying Company it must within five Business Days of so ceasing, transfer the Shares held by it to the Trustees or to a Qualifying Company (any may do so without restriction as to price or otherwise) failing which it will be deemed to have given a Transfer Notice in respect of such Shares.

 

11.8	If a Permitted Transferee who is a spouse or Civil Partner of the Original Shareholder ceases to be a spouse or Civil Partner of the Original Shareholder whether by reason of divorce or otherwise he must, within 15 Business Days of so ceasing either:

 

(a)

execute and deliver to the Company a transfer of the Shares held by him to the Original Shareholder (or, to any Permitted Transferee of the Original Shareholder) for such consideration as may be agreed between them; or

 

(b)

give a Transfer Notice to the Company in accordance with Article 12.2,

failing which he shall be deemed to have given a Transfer Notice.

 

11.9

On the death (subject to Article 11.2), bankruptcy, liquidation, administrator or administrative receivership of a Permitted Transferee (other than a joint holder) his personal representatives or trustee in bankruptcy, or its liquidator, administrator or administrative receiver must within five Business Days after the date of the grant of probate, the making of the bankruptcy order or the appointment of the liquidator, administrator or the administrative receiver execute and deliver to the Company a transfer of the Shares held by the Permitted Transferee without restriction as to price or otherwise.

 

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The transfer shall be to the Original Shareholder if still living (and not bankrupt or in liquidation) or, if so directed by the Original Shareholder, to any Permitted Transferee of the Original Shareholder. If the transfer is not executed and delivered within five Business Days of such period or if the Original Shareholder has died or is bankrupt or is in liquidation, administration or administrative receivership, the personal representative or trustee in bankruptcy or liquidator, administrator or administrative receiver will be deemed to have given a Transfer Notice.

 

11.10

Any Shares may at any time be transferred to a new Holding Company where there is a sale of the entire issued share capital of the Company to a Holding Company, which has been approved by a majority of the Board, including Investor Director Consent and on such sale the transferors receive share capital in the Holding Company as consideration.

 

11.11

The Directors may at any time transfer, or direct the transfer of, a fractional entitlement to a Share or a Share amalgamated from fractional entitlements pursuant to Articles 3.3 or 6.8 on behalf of one or more Shareholders, without restriction as to price or otherwise.

 

12.	Transfers of Shares subject to pre-emption rights

 

12.1	Save where the provisions of Articles 11, 16 and/or 18 apply, any transfer of Shares by a Shareholder shall be subject to the pre-emption rights contained in this Article 12.

 

12.2	A Shareholder who wishes to transfer Shares (a “Seller”) shall, except as otherwise provided in these Articles, before transferring or agreeing to transfer any Shares give notice in writing (a “Transfer Notice”) to the Company specifying:

 

(a)

the number of Shares which he wishes to transfer (the “Sale Shares”);

 

(b)

if he wishes to sell the Sale Shares to a third party, the name of the proposed transferee;

 

(c)

the price (in cash) at which he wishes to transfer the Sale Shares (which will be deemed to be Fair Value of the Sale Shares if no cash price is agreed between the Seller and the Board (including the Investor Directors) (the “Transfer Price”); and

 

(d)

whether the Transfer Notice is conditional on all or a specific number of the Sale Shares being sold to Shareholders (a “Minimum Transfer Condition”).

 

12.3	Except with the written consent of the Board acting by majority, no Transfer Notice once given or deemed to have been given under these Articles may be withdrawn.

 

12.4	A Transfer Notice constitutes the Company the agent of the Seller for the sale of the Sale Shares at the Transfer Price.

 

12.5	As soon as practicable following the later of:

 

(a)

receipt of a Transfer Notice; and

 

(b)

in the case where the Transfer Price has not been specified or the Transfer Notice is deemed to have been served, the determination of the Transfer Price under Article 13,

the Board shall offer the Sale Shares for sale to the Shareholders in the manner set out in Articles 12.6 to 12.8. Each offer must be in writing and give details of the number and Transfer Price of the Sale Shares offered.

 

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12.6	Priority for offer of Sale Shares

 

(a)

If the Sale Shares are Series A Shares, the Sale Shares shall offered in the following priority:

 

(i)

first, to the Series A Shareholders;

 

(ii)

second, to the Series B Shareholders;

 

(iii)

third to the Ordinary Shareholders; and

 

(iv)

fourth as the Board shall determine, acting with Investor Director Consent,

in each case on the basis as set out in Article 12.7.

 

(b)

If the Sale Shares are Series B Shares, the Sale Shares shall offered in the following priority:

 

(i)

first, to the Series B Shareholders;

 

(ii)

second, to the Series A Shareholders;

 

(iii)

third to the Ordinary Shareholders; and

 

(iv)

fourth as the Board shall determine, acting with Investor Director Consent,

in each case on the basis as set out in Article 12.7.

 

(c)

If the Sale Shares are Ordinary Shares, the Sale Shares shall be offered in the following priority:

 

(i)

first, to the Ordinary Shareholders;

 

(ii)

second to the Series A Shareholders and Series B Shareholders; and

 

(iii)

third as the Board shall determine, acting with Investor Director Consent,

in each case on the basis as set out in Article 12.7.

 

12.7	Transfers: First Offer

 

(a)

The Board shall offer the Sale Shares pursuant to the Priority Rights to all shareholders specified in the offer other than the Seller (the “Continuing Shareholders”) inviting them to apply in writing within the period from the date of the offer to the date 15 Business Days after the offer (inclusive) (the “First Offer Period”) for the maximum number of Sale Shares they wish to buy.

 

(b)

If the Sale Shares are subject to a Minimum Transfer Condition then any allocation made under Articles 12.7 and 12.8 will be conditional on the fulfilment of the Minimum Transfer Condition.

 

(c)

If, at the end of the First Offer Period, the number of Sale Shares applied for is equal to or exceeds the number of Sale Shares, the Board shall allocate the Sale Shares to each Continuing Shareholder in the proportion (fractional entitlements being rounded to the nearest whole number) which his existing holding of the relevant class of Shares bears to the total number of the relevant class of Shares held by those Continuing Shareholders who have applied for Sale Shares but no allocation shall be made to a Shareholder of more than the maximum number of Sale Shares which he has stated he is willing to buy.

 

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(d)

If not all Sale Shares are allocated in accordance with Article 12.7(c) but there are applications for Sale Shares that have not been satisfied those Sale Shares shall be allocated to the relevant applicant(s) in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 12.7(c).

 

(e)

If, at the end of the First Offer Period, the number of Sale Shares applied for is less than the number of Sale Shares, the Board shall allocate the Sale Shares to the Continuing Shareholders in accordance with their applications and the balance (the “Initial Surplus Shares”) will be dealt with in accordance with Article 12.8.

 

12.8	Transfers: Second Offer

 

(a)

At the end of the First Offer Period, the Board shall offer the Initial Surplus Shares to all the Continuing Shareholders inviting them to apply in writing within the period from the date of the offer to the date 15 Business Days after the date of the offer (inclusive) (the “Second Offer Period”) for the maximum number of the Initial Surplus Shares they wish to buy.

 

(b)

If, at the end of the Second Offer Period, the number of Initial Surplus Shares applied for exceeds the number of Initial Surplus Shares, the Board shall allocate the remaining Initial Surplus Shares to each Continuing Shareholder in the proportion (fractional entitlements being rounded to the nearest whole number) which his existing holding of Shares bears to the total number of Shares (including Sale Shares) held by those Continuing Shareholders who have applied during the Second Offer Period for Initial Surplus Shares but no allocation shall be made to a Shareholder of more than the maximum number of Initial Surplus Shares which he has stated he is willing to buy.

 

(c)

If, at the end of the Second Offer Period, the number of Initial Surplus Shares applied for is less than the number of Initial Surplus Shares, the Board shall allocate the Initial Surplus Shares to the Continuing Shareholders in accordance with their applications and the balance (the “Second Surplus Shares”) will be offered to any other person in accordance with Article 12.9(e).

 

12.9	Completion of transfer of Sale Shares

 

(a)

If the Transfer Notice includes a Minimum Transfer Condition and the total number of Shares applied for is less than the number of Sale Shares the Board shall notify the Seller and all those to whom Sale Shares have been conditionally allocated under Articles 12.7 and 12.8 stating the condition has not been met and that the relevant Transfer Notice has lapsed with immediate effect.

 

(b)

If:

 

(i)

the Transfer Notice does not include a Minimum Transfer Condition; and

 

(ii)

allocations have been made in respect of all the Sale Shares,

the Board shall, when no further offers are required to be made under Articles 12.7 and 12.8, give written notice of allocation (an “Allocation Notice”) to the Seller and each Shareholder to whom Sale Shares have been allocated (an “Applicant”) specifying the number of Sale Shares allocated to each Applicant and the place and time (being not less than 10 Business Days nor more than 20 Business Days after the date of the Allocation Notice) for completion of the transfer of the Sale Shares.

 

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(c)

Upon service of an Allocation Notice, the Seller must, against payment of the Transfer Price, transfer the Sale Shares in accordance with the requirements specified in it.

 

(d)

If the Seller fails to comply with the provisions of Article 12.9(c):

 

(i)

the chairman of the Company or, failing him, one of the directors, or some other person nominated by a resolution of the Board, may on behalf of the Seller:

 

(A)

complete, execute and deliver in his name all documents necessary to give effect to the transfer of the relevant Sale Shares to the Applicants;

 

(B)

receive the Transfer Price and give a good discharge for it; and

 

(C)

(subject to the transfer being duly stamped) enter the Applicants in the register of Shareholders as the holders of the Shares purchased by them; and

 

(ii)

the Company shall pay the Transfer Price into a separate bank account in the Company’s name on trust (but without interest) for the Seller until he has delivered to the Company his certificate or certificates for the relevant Shares (or an indemnity, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Board, in respect of any lost certificate).

 

(e)

If an Allocation Notice does not relate to all the Sale Shares then, subject to Article 12.9(f), the Seller may, within eight weeks after service of the Allocation Notice, transfer the Second Surplus Shares to any person at a price at least equal to the Transfer Price provided that the sale of the Second Surplus Shares shall continue to be subject to any Minimum Transfer Conditions.

 

(f)

The right of the Seller to transfer Shares under Article 12.9(e) does not apply if the Board is of the opinion on reasonable grounds that:

 

(i)

the transferee is a person (or a nominee for a person) who the Board determines in their absolute discretion is a competitor with (or an Associate of a competitor with) the business of the Company or with a Subsidiary Undertaking of the Company;

 

(ii)

the sale of the Sale Shares is not bona fide or the price is subject to a deduction, rebate or allowance to the transferee; or

 

(iii)

the Seller has failed or refused to provide promptly information available to it or him and reasonably requested by the Board for the purpose of enabling it to form the opinion mentioned above.

 

12.10

Waiver of restrictions

The restrictions imposed by this Article may be waived in relation to any proposed transfer of Shares with Investor Director Consent and the consent of Shareholders who, but for the waiver, would or might have been entitled to have such shares offered to them in accordance with this Article.

13. Valuation of Shares

 

13.1	If a Transfer Notice does not specify a Transfer Price or, subject to Article 10.8, if a Transfer Notice is deemed to have been served then, upon service of the Transfer Notice

 

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or, in the case of the deemed service of a Transfer Notice, on the date on which the Board first has actual knowledge of the facts giving rise to such deemed service, the Board shall either:

 

(a)

appoint expert valuers in accordance with Article 13.2 (the “Expert Valuers”) to certify the Fair Value of the Sale Shares; or (if the Fair Value has been certified by Expert Valuers within the preceding 12 weeks)

 

(b)

specify that the Fair Value of the Sale Shares will be calculated by dividing any Fair Value so certified by the number of Sale Shares to which it related and multiplying such Fair Value by the number of Sale Shares the subject of the Transfer Notice.

 

13.2	The Expert Valuers will be either:

 

(a)

the Auditors where no objection is made; or (if so specified in the relevant Transfer Notice)

 

(b)

an independent firm of Chartered Accountants to be agreed between the Board and the Seller or failing agreement not later than the date 10 Business Days after the date of service of the Transfer Notice to be appointed by the then President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales on the application of either party.

 

13.3	The “Fair Value” of the Sale Shares shall be determined by the Expert Valuer on the following assumptions and bases:

 

(a)

valuing the Sale Shares as on an arm’s-length sale between a willing seller and a willing buyer;

 

(b)

if the Company is then carrying on business as a going concern, on the assumption that it will continue to do so;

 

(c)

that the Sale Shares are capable of being transferred without restriction;

 

(d)

valuing the Sale Shares as a rateable proportion of the total value of all the issued Shares without any premium or discount being attributable to the percentage of the issued share capital of the Company which they represent; and

 

(e)

reflect any other factors which the Expert Valuers reasonably believe should be taken into account.

 

13.4	If any difficulty arises in applying any of these assumptions or bases then the Expert Valuers shall resolve that difficulty in whatever manner they shall in their absolute discretion think fit.

 

13.5	The Expert Valuers shall be requested to determine the Fair Value within 20 Business Days of their appointment and to notify the Board of their determination.

 

13.6	The Expert Valuers shall act as experts and not as arbitrators and their determination shall be final and binding on the parties (in the absence of fraud or manifest error).

 

13.7	The Board will give the Expert Valuers access to all accounting records or other relevant documents of the Company subject to them agreeing such confidentiality provisions as the Board may reasonably impose.

 

13.8

The Expert Valuers shall deliver their certificate to the Company. As soon as the Company receives the certificate it shall deliver a copy of it to the Seller. Unless the Sale Shares are to be sold under a Transfer Notice, which is deemed to have been served, the Seller may by notice in writing to the Company within five Business Days of the service on him of the copy certificate, cancel the Company’s authority to sell the Sale Shares.

 

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13.9	The cost of obtaining the certificate shall be paid by the Company unless:

 

(a)

the Seller cancels the Company’s authority to sell; or

 

(b)

the sale is pursuant to a Transfer Notice which is deemed to have been served, and the Sale Price certified by the Expert Valuers is less than the price (if any) offered by the directors to the Seller for the Sale Share before Expert Valuer was instructed,

in which case the Seller shall bear the cost.

 

14.	Compulsory transfers – general

 

14.1	A person entitled to a Share in consequence of the bankruptcy of a Shareholder shall be deemed to have given a Transfer Notice in respect of that Share at a time determined by the Directors.

 

14.2	If a Share remains registered in the name of a deceased Shareholder for longer than one year after the date of his death the Directors may require the legal personal representatives of that deceased Shareholder either:

 

(a)

to effect a Permitted Transfer of such Shares (including for this purpose an election to be registered in respect of the Permitted Transfer); or

 

(b)

to show to the satisfaction of the Directors that a Permitted Transfer will be effected before or promptly upon the completion of the administration of the estate of the deceased Shareholder.

If either requirement in this Article 14.2 shall not be fulfilled to the satisfaction of the Directors a Transfer Notice shall be deemed to have been given in respect of each such Share save to the extent that, the Directors may otherwise determine.

 

14.3

If a Shareholder which is a company, either suffers or resolves for the appointment of a liquidator, administrator or administrative receiver over it or any material part of its assets, the relevant Shareholder shall be deemed to have given a Transfer Notice in respect of all the shares held by the relevant Shareholder save to the extent that, and at a time, the Directors may determine.

 

14.4

If there is a change in control (as control is defined in section 1124 of the CTA 2010) of any Shareholder which is a company, it shall be bound at any time, if and when required in writing by the Directors to do so, to give (or procure the giving in the case of a nominee) a Transfer Notice in respect of all the Shares registered in its and their names and their respective nominees’ names save that, in the case of the Permitted Transferee, it shall first be permitted to transfer those Shares back to the original Shareholder from whom it received its Shares or to any other Permitted Transferee before being required to serve a Transfer Notice. This Article 14.4 shall not apply to a member that is an Investor.

 

15.	Compulsory transfer – employees

 

15.1	If any Employee ceases:-

 

(a)

by reason of being a Bad Leaver to be an Employee prior to the end of the Relevant Period the relevant Employee shall, be deemed to have given a Transfer Notice in respect of all the Employee Shares and Existing Option Shares held by them on the Effective Termination Date. In such circumstances the Transfer Price shall be the lower of Fair Value and the nominal value of those Shares;

 

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(b)

by reason of being a Leaver to be an Employee prior to the end of the Relevant Period the relevant Employee shall be deemed to have given a Transfer Notice in respect of all the Employee Shares held by them on the Effective Termination Date. In such circumstances the Transfer Price shall be the lower of Fair Value and the nominal value of the Employee Shares; and

 

(c)

by reason of being a Good Leaver to be an Employee prior to the end of the Relevant Period the relevant Employee shall be deemed to have given a Transfer Notice in respect of all the Employee Shares held by them on the Effective Termination Date. In such circumstances the Transfer Price shall be Fair Value.

 

15.2	For the purposes of this Article, the Priority Rights shall be such that the Employee Shares are offered in the following order of priority:

 

(i)

first, to the Shareholders;

 

(ii)

second, as the Board shall determine, acting with Investor Director Consent,

in each case on the basis as set out in Article 12.7.

 

15.3	All voting rights attached to Employee Shares held by an Employee (the “Restricted Member”), if any, shall at the time he ceases to be an Employee be suspended unless the Board and the Investor Majority notify him otherwise.

 

15.4

Any Employee Shares whose voting rights are suspended pursuant to Article 15.3 (“Restricted Shares”) shall confer on the holders of Restricted Shares the right to receive a notice of and attend all general meetings of the Company but shall have no right to vote either in person or by proxy. Voting rights suspended pursuant to Article 15.3 shall be automatically restored immediately prior to an IPO. If a Restricted Member transfers any Restricted Shares in the Company in accordance with these Articles all voting rights attached to the Restricted Shares so transferred shall upon completion of the transfer (as evidenced by the transferee’s name being entered in the Company’s register of members) automatically be restored.

 

16.	Mandatory Offer on a Change of Control

 

16.1

Except in the case of Permitted Transfers and transfers pursuant to Articles 14 and 15, after going through the pre-emption procedure in Article 12, the provisions of Article 16.2 will apply if one or more Proposed Sellers propose to transfer in one or a series of related transactions any Equity Shares (the “Proposed Transfer”) which would, if put into effect, result in any Proposed Purchaser (and Associates of his or persons Acting in Concert with him) acquiring a Controlling Interest in the Company.

 

16.2

A Proposed Seller must, before making a Proposed Transfer procure the making by the Proposed Purchaser of an offer (the “Offer”) to the other Shareholders to acquire all of the Company’s Equity Shares for a consideration per share the value of which is at least equal to the Specified Price (as defined in Article 16.7).

 

16.3

The Offer must be given by written notice (a “Proposed Sale Notice”) at least 20 Business Days (the “Offer Period”) prior to the proposed sale date (“Proposed Sale Date”). The Proposed Sale Notice must set out, to the extent not described in any accompanying documents, the identity of the Proposed Purchaser, the purchase price and other terms and conditions of payment, the Proposed Sale Date and the number of Shares proposed to be purchased by the Proposed Purchaser (the “Proposed Sale Shares”).

 

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16.4	If any other holder of Equity Shares is not given the rights accorded him by this Article, the Proposed Sellers will not be entitled to complete their sale and the Company will not register any transfer intended to carry that sale into effect.

 

16.5	If the Offer is accepted by any Shareholder (an “Accepting Shareholder”) within the Offer Period, the completion of the Proposed Transfer will be conditional upon the completion of the purchase of all the Shares held by Accepting Shareholders.

 

16.6	The Proposed Transfer is subject to the pre-emption provisions of Article 12.2 but the purchase of the Accepting Shareholders’ shares shall not be subject to Article 12.

 

16.7	For the purpose of this Article:

 

(a)

the expression “transfer” and “purchaser” shall include the renunciation of a renounceable letter of allotment and the renouncee under any such letter of allotment respectively;

 

(b)

the expression “Specified Price” shall mean in respect of each Share a sum in cash equal to the highest price per Share offered or paid by the Proposed Purchaser:

 

(i)

in the Proposed Transfer; or

 

(ii)

in any related or previous transaction by the Proposed Purchaser or any person Acting in Concert with the Proposed Purchaser in the 12 months preceding the date of the Proposed Transfer,

plus an amount equal to the Relevant Sum, as defined in Article 16.7(c), of any other consideration (in cash or otherwise) paid or payable by the Proposed Purchaser or any other person Acting in Concert with the Proposed Purchaser, which having regard to the substance of the transaction as a whole, can reasonably be regarded as an addition to the price paid or payable for the Shares (the “Supplemental Consideration”);

 

(c)

Relevant Sum = C ÷ A

where: A = number of Equity Shares being sold in connection with the relevant Proposed Transfer;

      C = the Supplemental Consideration.

 

17.

Not Used

 

18.	Drag-along

 

18.1

If the holders of 65% of the Shares (the “Selling Shareholders”) acting with Investor Majority Consent wish to transfer all their interest in Shares (the “Sellers’ Shares”) to a Proposed Purchaser acting in good faith, the Selling Shareholders shall have the option (the “Drag Along Option”) to require all the other holders of Shares (the “Called Shareholders”) to sell and transfer all their Shares to the Proposed Purchaser or as the Proposed Purchaser shall direct in accordance with the provisions of this Article.

 

18.2

The Selling Shareholders may exercise the Drag Along Option by giving a written notice to that effect (a “Drag Along Notice”) to the Company which the Company shall forthwith copy to the Called Shareholders at any time before the transfer of the Sellers’ Shares to the Proposed Purchaser. A Drag Along Notice shall specify that the Called Shareholders are required to transfer all their Shares (the “Called Shares”) under this Article, the person to whom they are to be transferred, the consideration for which the Called Shares are to be transferred (calculated in accordance with this Article) and the proposed date of transfer.

 

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18.3

Drag Along Notices shall be irrevocable but will lapse if for any reason there is not a sale of the Sellers’ Shares by the Selling Shareholders to the Proposed Purchaser within 40 Business Days after the date of service of the Drag Along Notice. The Selling Shareholders shall be entitled to serve further Drag Along Notices following the lapse of any particular Drag Along Notice.

 

18.4	The consideration (in cash or otherwise) for which the Called Shareholders shall be obliged to sell each of the Called Shares shall not be less than the Specified Price and will attribute an equal value to each Share (including the Sellers’ Shares) to be acquired by the Proposed Purchaser.

 

18.5	No Drag Along Notice may require a Called Shareholder to agree to any terms except those specifically provided for in this Article.

 

18.6

Within five Business Days of the Selling Shareholders serving a Drag Along Notice on the Called Shareholders, the Called Shareholders shall deliver stock transfer forms for their Shares in favour of the Proposed Purchaser or as the Proposed Purchaser shall direct, together with the relevant share certificate(s) (or a suitable indemnity in lieu thereof) to the Company. On the expiration of that five Business Day period the Company shall pay the Called Shareholders, on behalf of the Proposed Purchaser, the amounts they are due pursuant to Article 18.4 to the extent the Proposed Purchaser has put the Company in the requisite funds. The Company’s receipt for the amounts due pursuant to Article 18.4 shall be a good discharge to the Purchaser. The Company shall hold the amounts due to the Called Shareholders pursuant to Article 18.4 in trust for the Called Shareholders without any obligation to pay interest.

 

18.7

To the extent that the Proposed Purchaser has not, on the expiration of such five Business Day period, put the Company in funds to pay the amounts due pursuant to Article 18.4, the Called Shareholders shall be entitled to the return of the stock transfer forms and share certificate (or suitable indemnity) for the relevant Shares and the Called Shareholders shall have no further rights or obligations under this Article 18 in respect of their Shares.

 

18.8

If a Called Shareholder fails to deliver stock transfer forms and share certificates (or suitable indemnity) for its Shares to the Company upon the expiration of that five Business Day period, the Directors shall, if requested by the Proposed Purchaser, authorise any Director to transfer the Called Shareholder’s Shares on the Called Shareholder’s behalf to the Proposed Purchaser (or its nominee(s)) to the extent the Proposed Purchaser has, at the expiration of that five Business Day period, put the Company in funds to pay the amounts due pursuant to Article 18.4 for the Called Shareholder’s Shares offered to him. The Board shall then authorise registration of the transfer once appropriate stamp duty has been paid. The defaulting Called Shareholder shall surrender his share certificate for his Shares (or provide a suitable indemnity) to the Company. On surrender, he shall be entitled to the amount due to him pursuant to Article 18.4.

 

18.9	Any transfer of Shares to a Proposed Purchaser (or as they may direct) pursuant to a sale in respect of which a Drag Along Notice has been duly served shall not be subject to the provisions of Article 12.

 

18.10

On any person, following the issue of a Drag Along Notice, becoming a Shareholder of the Company pursuant to the exercise of a pre-existing option to acquire shares in the Company or pursuant to the conversion of any convertible security of the Company (a “New Shareholder”), a Drag Along Notice shall be deemed to have been served on the New Shareholder on the same terms as the previous Drag Along Notice who shall then be bound to sell and transfer all Shares so acquired to the Proposed Purchaser or as the Proposed Purchaser may direct and the provisions of this Article shall apply with the

 

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necessary changes to the New Shareholder except that completion of the sale of the Shares shall take place immediately on the Drag Along Notice being deemed served on the New Shareholder.

 

19.	General meetings

 

19.1	If the Directors are required by the Shareholders under section 303 of the Act to call a general meeting, the Directors shall convene the meeting for a date not later than 28 days after the date on which the Directors became subject to the requirement under section 303 of the Act.

 

19.2

The provisions of section 318 of the Act shall apply to the Company save that if a quorum is not present at any meeting adjourned for the reason referred to in article 41 of the Model Articles, then, provided that the Qualifying Person present holds or represents the holder of at least 50 per cent in nominal value of the Series A Shares and Series B Shares, any resolution agreed to by such Qualifying Person shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed unanimously at a general meeting of the Company duly convened and held.

 

19.3

If any two or more Shareholders (or Qualifying Persons representing two or more Shareholders) attend the meeting in different locations, the meeting shall be treated as being held at the location specified in the notice of the meeting, save that if no one is present at that location so specified, the meeting shall be deemed to take place where the largest number of Qualifying Persons is assembled or, if no such group can be identified, at the location of the chairman.

 

19.4	If a demand for a poll is withdrawn under article 44(3) of the Model Articles, the demand shall not be taken to have invalidated the result of a show of hands declared before the demand was made and the meeting shall continue as if the demand had not been made.

 

19.5

Polls must be taken in such manner as the chairman directs. A poll demanded on the election of a chairman or on a question of adjournment must be held immediately. A poll demanded on any other question must be held either immediately or at such time and place as the chairman directs not being more than 14 days after the poll is demanded. The demand for a poll shall not prevent the continuance of a meeting for the transaction of any business other than the question on which the poll was demanded.

 

19.6	No notice need be given of a poll not held immediately if the time and place at which it is to be taken are announced at the meeting at which it is demanded. In any other case at least seven clear days’ notice shall be given specifying the time and place at which the poll is to be taken.

 

19.7

If the poll is to be held more than 48 hours after it was demanded the Shareholders shall be entitled to deliver Proxy Notices in respect of the poll at any time up to 24 hours before the time appointed for taking that poll. In calculating that period, no account shall be taken of any part of a day that is not a working day.

 

20.

Proxies

 

20.1

Paragraph (c) of article 45(1) of the Model Articles shall be deleted and replaced by the words: “is signed by or on behalf of the shareholder appointing the proxy and accompanied by any the authority under which it is signed (or a certified copy of such authority or a copy of such authority in some other way approved by the directors)”.

 

20.2	The instrument appointing a proxy and any authority under which it is signed or a certified copy of such authority or a copy in some other way approved by the Directors may:

 

(a)

be sent or supplied in hard copy form, or (subject to any conditions and limitations which the Board may specify) in electronic form, to the registered office of the

 

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Company or to such other address (including electronic address) as may be specified for this purpose in the notice convening the meeting or in any instrument of proxy or any invitation to appoint a proxy sent or supplied by the Company in relation to the meeting at any time before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the instrument proposes to vote;

 

(b)

be delivered at the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the instrument proposes to vote to the chairman or to the company secretary or to any Director; or

 

(c)

in the case of a poll, be delivered at the meeting at which the poll was demanded to the chairman or to the company secretary or to any Director, or at the time and place at which the poll is held to the Chairman or to the company secretary or to any Director or scrutineer,

and an instrument of proxy which is not deposited or delivered in a manner so permitted shall be invalid.

 

21.	Directors’ borrowing powers

The Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow or raise money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and uncalled capital and to issue debentures, debenture stock and other securities as security for any debt, liability of obligation of the Company or of any third party.

 

22.	Alternate Directors

 

22.1	Notwithstanding any provision of these Articles to the contrary, any person appointed as a Director (the “Appointer”) may appoint any director or any other person as he thinks fit to be his alternate Director to:

 

(a)

exercise that Director’s powers; and

 

(b)

carry out that Director’s responsibilities in relation to the taking of decisions by the Directors in the absence of the alternate’s Appointor.

The appointment of an alternate Director shall not require approval by a resolution of the Directors.

 

22.2	Any appointment or removal of an alternate must be effected by notice in writing to the Company signed by the Appointor, or in any other manner approved by the Directors.

 

22.3	The notice must:

 

(a)

identify the proposed alternate; and

 

(b)

in the case of a notice of appointment, contain a statement signed by the proposed alternate that the proposed alternate is willing to act as the alternate of the Director giving the notice.

 

22.4	An alternate Director may act as an alternate to more than one Director and has the same rights, in relation to any Directors’ meeting (including as to notice) or Directors’ written resolution, as the alternate’s Appointor.

 

22.5	Except as these Articles specify otherwise, alternate directors:

 

(a)

are deemed for all purposes to be Directors;

 

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(b)

are liable for their own acts and omissions;

 

(c)

are subject to the same restrictions as their Appointors; and

 

(d)

are not deemed to be agents of or for their Appointors,

and, in particular (without limitation), each alternate director shall be entitled to receive notice of all meetings of Directors and of all meetings of committees of Directors of which his Appointor is a member.

 

22.6	A person who is an alternate Director but not a Director:

 

(a)

may be counted as participating for the purposes of determining whether a quorum is participating (but only if that person’s Appointor is not participating); and

 

(b)

may sign a Directors’ written resolution (but only if his Appointor is an Eligible Director in relation to that decision, but does not participate).

No alternate may be counted as more than one Director for such purposes.

 

22.7	A Director who is also an alternate Director is entitled, in the absence of his Appointor, to a separate vote on behalf of each Appointor, in addition to his own vote on any decision of the Directors (provided that his Appointor is an Eligible Director in relation to that decision).

 

22.8	An alternate Director is not entitled to receive any remuneration from the company for serving as an alternate Director, except such part of the alternate’s Appointor’s remuneration as the Appointor may direct by notice in writing made to the Company.

 

22.9	An alternate Director’s appointment as an alternate shall terminate:

 

(a)

when the alternate’s Appointor revokes the appointment by notice to the Company in writing specifying when it is to terminate;

 

(b)

on the occurrence in relation to the alternate of any event which, if it occurred in relation to the alternate’s Appointor, would result in the termination of the Appointor’s appointment as a Director;

 

(c)

on the death of the alternate’s Appointor; or

 

(d)

when the alternate’s Appointor’s appointment as a Director terminates.

 

23.	Number of Directors

Unless and until the Company shall otherwise determine by ordinary resolution, the number of Directors shall be not less than two.

 

24.	Appointment of Directors

 

24.1

Sofinnova Partners shall be entitled to nominate one person to act as a Director of the Company by notice in writing addressed to the Company from time to time and the other holders of Shares shall not vote their Shares so as to remove that Director from office. Sofinnova Partners shall be entitled to remove their nominated Director so appointed at any time by notice in writing to the Company served at its registered office and appoint another person to act in his place.

 

24.2	Sofinnova Ventures shall be entitled to nominate one person to act as a Director of the Company by notice in writing addressed to the Company from time to time and the other holders of Shares shall not vote their Shares so as to remove that Director from office.

 

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Sofinnova Ventures shall be entitled to remove their nominated Director so appointed at any time by notice in writing to the Company served at its registered office and appoint another person to act in his place.

 

24.3

Morningside shall be entitled to nominate one person to act as a Director of the Company by notice in writing addressed to the Company from time to time and the other holders of Shares shall not vote their Shares so as to remove that Director from office. Morningside shall be entitled to remove their nominated Director so appointed at any time by notice in writing to the Company served at its registered office and appoint another person to act in his place.

 

24.4	An appointment or removal of a Director under this Article 24 will take effect at and from the time when the notice is received at the registered office of the Company or produced to a meeting of the directors of the Company.

 

24.5	The Directors appointed pursuant to this Article 24 shall be entitled at their request to be appointed to any committee of the Board established from time to time and to the board of directors of any Subsidiary Undertaking.

 

24.6

For so long as any member of the Scottish Enterprise Group holds any Shares, Scottish Enterprise shall be entitled, following prior consultation with the board of the Company (subject to Article 24.8), to appoint one director of the Company and shall be entitled to remove and, following prior consultation with the board of the Company (subject to Article 24.8), replace any such director so appointed, and to have any director so appointed, appointed to any committee of the Board established from time to time and to the board of directors of any Subsidiary Undertaking.

 

24.7

For so long as any member of the Alida Group holds any Shares, the members of the Alida Group holding Shares shall (acting by majority in nominal value) be entitled, following prior consultation with the board of the Company (subject to Article 24.8), to appoint one director of the Company and shall be entitled to remove and, following prior consultation with the board of the Company (subject to Article 24.8), replace any such director so appointed, and to have any director so appointed, appointed to any committee of the Board established from time to time and to the board of directors of any Subsidiary Undertaking.

 

24.8

Where the Board believe, acting reasonably, that any proposed appointee pursuant to Article 24.6 or 24.7 has or may have a conflict of interest or competing interests to his proposed role as director and the relevant appointor still wishes to make the appointment such appointment shall require the approval of the Board, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Board decline so to approve any appointee then the appointor is entitled to appoint an alternative appointee and to do so as often as is necessary until an appointee of that appointor is approved by the Board.

 

25.	Disqualification of Directors

In addition to that provided in article 18 of the Model Articles, the office of a Director shall also be vacated (other than in the case of the Investor Directors) if he is convicted of a criminal offence (other than a minor motoring offence) and the Directors resolve that his office be vacated.

 

26.	Proceedings of Directors

 

26.1

The quorum for Directors’ meetings shall be two Directors who must include the Investor Directors (save that where a Relevant Interest of an Investor Director is being authorised by other Directors in accordance with section 175(5)(a) of the Act, such Investor Director and any other interested Director shall not be included for the purpose of such authorisation but shall be included for the purpose of forming the quorum). If such a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting, or if during a meeting such

 

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quorum ceases to be present, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and place or at such time and place as determined by the Directors present at such meeting and the provisions of this Article 26.1 shall apply accordingly.

 

26.2

In the event that a meeting of the Directors is attended by a Director who is acting as alternate for one or more other Directors, the Director or Directors for whom he is the alternate shall be counted in the quorum despite their absence, and if on that basis there is a quorum the meeting may be held despite the fact (if it is the case) that only one Director is physically present.

 

26.3

If all the Directors participating in a meeting of the Directors are not physically in the same place, the meeting shall be deemed to take place where the largest group of participators in number is assembled. In the absence of a majority the location of the chairman shall be deemed to be the place of the meeting.

 

26.4

Notice of a Directors’ meeting need not be given to Directors who waive their entitlement to notice of that meeting, by giving notice to that effect to the Company at any time before or after the date on which the meeting is held. Where such notice is given after the meeting has been held, that does not affect the validity of the meeting, or of any business conducted at it.

 

26.5

Provided (if these Articles so require) that he has declared to the Directors, in accordance with the provisions of these Articles, the nature and extent of his interest (and subject to any restrictions on voting or counting in a quorum imposed by the Directors in authorising a Relevant Interest, a Director may vote at a meeting of the Directors or of a committee of the Directors on any resolution concerning a matter in which he has an interest, whether a direct or an indirect interest, or in relation to which he has a duty and shall also be counted in reckoning whether a quorum is present at such a meeting.

 

26.6	Questions arising at any meeting of the Directors shall be decided by a majority of votes. In the case of any equality of votes, the chairman shall not have a second or casting vote.

 

26.7

If the Chairman of the Board has not been appointed within six months of the Date of Adoption or within six months of the resignation of a Chairman two or more of the non-executive Directors of the Company at that relevant time shall be entitled to appoint a Chairman by notice in writing addressed to the Company. Article 12 of the Model Articles shall be modified accordingly. This Article 26.7 is without prejudice to the Board’s right to appoint the Chairman otherwise.

 

26.8

A decision of the Directors may take the form of a resolution in writing, where each Eligible Director has signed one or more copies of it, or to which each Eligible Director has otherwise indicated agreement in writing (including confirmation given by electronic means). Reference in article 7(1) of the Model Articles to article 8 of the Model Articles shall be deemed to include a reference to this Article also.

 

27.	Directors’ interests

Specific interests of a Director

 

27.1

Subject to the provisions of the Act and provided (if these Articles so require) that he has declared to the Directors in accordance with the provisions of these Articles, the nature and extent of his interest, a Director may (save as to the extent not permitted by law from time to time), notwithstanding his office, have an interest of the following kind:

 

(a)

where a Director (or a person connected with him) is party to or in any way directly or indirectly interested in, or has any duty in respect of, any existing or proposed contract, arrangement or transaction with the Company or any other undertaking in which the Company is in any way interested;

 

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(b)

where a Director (or a person connected with him) is a director, employee or other officer of, or a party to any contract, arrangement or transaction with, or in any way interested in, any body corporate promoted by the Company or in which the Company is in any way interested;

 

(c)

where a Director (or a person connected with him) is a shareholder in the Company or a shareholder in, employee, director, member or other officer of, or consultant to, a Parent Undertaking of, or a Subsidiary Undertaking of a Parent Undertaking of, the Company;

 

(d)

where a Director (or a person connected with him) holds and is remunerated in respect of any office or place of profit (other than the office of auditor) in respect of the Company or body corporate in which the Company is in any way interested;

 

(e)

where a Director is given a guarantee, or is to be given a guarantee, in respect of an obligation incurred by or on behalf of the Company or any body corporate in which the Company is in any way interested;

 

(f)

where a Director (or a person connected with him or of which he is a member or employee) acts (or any body corporate promoted by the Company or in which the Company is in any way interested of which he is a director, employee or other officer may act) in a professional capacity for the Company or any body corporate promoted by the Company or in which the Company is in any way interested (other than as auditor) whether or not he or it is remunerated for this;

 

(g)

an interest which cannot reasonably be regarded as likely to give rise to a conflict of interest; or

 

(h)

any other interest authorised by ordinary resolution.

Interests of an Investor Director

 

27.2

In addition to the provisions of Article 27.1, subject to the provisions of the Act and provided (if these Articles so require) that he has declared to the Directors in accordance with the provisions of these Articles, the nature and extent of his interest, where a Director is an Investor Director he may (save as to the extent not permitted by law from time to time), notwithstanding his office, have an interest arising from any duty he may owe to, or interest he may have as an employee, director, trustee, member, partner, officer or representative of, or a consultant to, or direct or indirect investor (including without limitation by virtue of a carried interest, remuneration or incentive arrangements or the holding of securities) in:

 

(a)

an Investor Fund Manager;

 

(b)

any of the funds advised or managed by an Investor Fund Manager from time to time; or

 

(c)

another body corporate or firm in which an Investor Fund Manager or any fund advised by such Fund Manager has directly or indirectly invested, including without limitation any portfolio companies.

Interests of which a Director is not aware

 

27.3	For the purposes of this Article 27, an interest of which a Director is not aware and of which it is unreasonable to expect him to be aware shall not be treated as an interest of his.

 

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Accountability of any benefit and validity of a contract

 

27.4

In any situation permitted by this Article 27 (save as otherwise agreed by him) a Director shall not by reason of his office be accountable to the Company for any benefit which he derives from that situation and no such contract, arrangement or transaction shall be avoided on the grounds of any such interest or benefit.

Terms and conditions of Board authorisation

 

27.5	Subject to Article 27.6, any authority given in accordance with section 175(5)(a) of the Act in respect of a Director (“Interested Director”) who has proposed that the Directors authorise his interest (“Relevant Interest”) pursuant to that section may, for the avoidance of doubt:

 

(a)

be given on such terms and subject to such conditions or limitations as may be imposed by the authorising Directors as they see fit from time to time, including, without limitation:

 

(i)

restricting the Interested Director from voting on any resolution put to a meeting of the Directors or of a committee of the Directors in relation to the Relevant Interest;

 

(ii)

restricting the Interested Director from being counted in the quorum at a meeting of the Directors or of a committee of the Directors where such Relevant Interest is to be discussed; or

 

(iii)

restricting the application of the provisions in Articles 28.7 and 28.8, so far as is permitted by law, in respect of such Interested Director;

 

(b)

be withdrawn, or varied at any time by the Directors entitled to authorise the Relevant Situation as they see fit from time to time; and

subject to Article 27.6, an Interested Director must act in accordance with any such terms, conditions or limitations imposed by the authorising Directors pursuant to section 175(5)(a) of the Act and this Article 27.

Director’s duty of confidentiality to a person other than the Company

 

27.6

Subject to Article 27.8 (and without prejudice to any equitable principle or rule of law which may excuse or release the Director from disclosing information, in circumstances where disclosure may otherwise be required under this Article 27), if a Director, otherwise than by virtue of his position as director, receives information in respect of which he owes a duty of confidentiality to a person other than the Company, he shall not be required:

 

(a)

to disclose such information to the Company or to any Director, or to any officer or employee of the Company; or

 

(b)

otherwise to use or apply such confidential information for the purpose of or in connection with the performance of his duties as a Director.

 

27.7

Where such duty of confidentiality arises out of a situation in which a Director has, or can have, a direct or indirect interest that conflicts, or possibly may conflict, with the interests of the Company, Article 27.7 shall apply only if the conflict arises out of a matter which falls within Article 27.1 or Article 27.2 or has been authorised under section 175(5)(a) of the Act.

 

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Additional steps to be taken by a Director to manage a conflict of interest

 

27.8

Where a Director has an interest which can reasonably be regarded as likely to give rise to a conflict of interest, the Director may take such additional steps as may be necessary or desirable for the purpose of managing such conflict of interest, including compliance with any procedures laid down from time to time by the Directors for the purpose of managing conflicts of interest generally and/or any specific procedures approved by the Directors for the purpose of or in connection with the situation or matter in question, including without limitation:

 

(a)

absenting himself from any discussions, whether in meetings of the Directors or otherwise, at which the relevant situation or matter falls to be considered; and

 

(b)

excluding himself from documents or information made available to the Directors generally in relation to such situation or matter and/or arranging for such documents or information to be reviewed by a professional adviser to ascertain the extent to which it might be appropriate for him to have access to such documents or information.

Requirement of a Director is to declare an interest

 

27.9

Subject to section 182 of the Act, a Director shall declare the nature and extent of any interest permitted by Article 27.1 or Article 27.2 at a meeting of the Directors, or by general notice in accordance with section 184 (notice in writing) or section 185 (general notice) of the Act or in such other manner as the Directors may determine, except that no declaration of interest shall be required by a Director in relation to an interest:

 

(a)

falling under Article 27.1(g);

 

(b)

if, or to the extent that, the other Directors are already aware of such interest (and for this purpose the other Directors are treated as aware of anything of which they ought reasonably to be aware); or

 

(c)

if, or to the extent that, it concerns the terms of his service contract (as defined by section 227 of the Act) that have been or are to be considered by a meeting of the Directors, or by a committee of Directors appointed for the purpose under these Articles.

Shareholder approval

 

27.10

Subject to section 239 of the Act, the Company may by ordinary resolution ratify any contract, transaction or arrangement, or other proposal, not properly authorised by reason of a contravention of any provisions of this Article 27.

 

27.11

For the purposes of this Article 27:

 

(a)

a conflict of interest includes a conflict of interest and duty and a conflict of duties;

 

(b)

the provisions of section 252 of the Act shall determine whether a person is connected with a Director;

 

(c)

a general notice to the Directors that a Director is to be regarded as having an interest of the nature and extent specified in the notice in any transaction or arrangement in which a specified person or class of persons is interested shall be deemed to be a disclosure that the Director has an interest in any such transaction of the nature and extent so specified.

 

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28.

Notices

 

28.1	Subject to the requirements set out in the Act, any notice given or document sent or supplied to or by any person under these Articles, or otherwise sent by the Company under the Act, may be given, sent or supplied:

 

(a)

in hard copy form;

 

(b)

in electronic form; or

 

(c)

(by the Company) by means of a website (other than notices calling a meeting of Directors),

or partly by one of these means and partly by another of these means.

Notices shall be given and documents supplied in accordance with the procedures set out in the Act, except to the extent that a contrary provision is set out in this Article 28.

Notices in hard copy form

 

28.2	Any notice or other document in hard copy form given or supplied under these Articles may be delivered by hand or sent by first class post (airmail if overseas):

 

(a)

to the Company or any other company at its registered office; or

 

(b)

to the address notified to or by the Company for that purpose; or

 

(c)

in the case of an intended recipient who is a member or his legal personal representative or trustee in bankruptcy, to such member’s address as shown in the Company’s register of members; or

 

(d)

in the case of an intended recipient who is a Director or alternate, to his address as shown in the register of Directors; or

 

(e)

to any other address to which any provision of the Companies Acts (as defined in the Act) authorises the document or information to be sent or supplied; or

 

(f)

where the Company is the sender, if the Company is unable to obtain an address falling within one of the addresses referred to in (a) to (e) above, to the intended recipient’s last address known to the Company.

 

28.3	Any notice or other document in hard copy form given or supplied under these Articles shall be deemed to have been served and be effective:

 

(a)

if delivered, at the time of delivery;

 

(b)

if sent by first class post (airmail if overseas), on receipt or 24 hours after the time it was posted, whichever occurs first.

The provisions of s. 1147 (5) of the Act shall be dis-applied for the purposes of this Article 28.3.

Notices in electronic form

 

28.4	Subject to the provisions of the Act, any notice or other document in electronic form given or supplied under these Articles may:

 

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(a)

if sent by fax or email (provided that a fax number or an address for email has been notified to or by the Company for that purpose either generally or specifically), be sent by the relevant form of communication to that address;

 

(b)

if delivered or sent by first class post (airmail if overseas) in an electronic form (such as sending a disk by post), be so delivered or sent as if in hard copy form under Article 28.2; or

 

(c)

be sent by such other electronic means (as defined in section 1168 of the Act) and to such address(es) as the Company may specify:

 

(i)

on its website from time to time; or

 

(ii)

by notice (in hard copy or electronic form) to all members of the Company from time to time.

 

28.5	Any notice or other document in electronic form given or supplied under these Articles shall be deemed to have been served and be effective:

 

(a)

if sent by facsimile or email (where a fax number or an address for email has been notified to or by the Company for that purpose either generally or specifically), on the day it was sent;

 

(b)

if posted in an electronic form, on receipt or 48 hours after the time it was posted, whichever occurs first;

 

(c)

if delivered in an electronic form, at the time of delivery; and

 

(d)

if sent by any other electronic means as referred to in Article 28.4(c), at the time such delivery is deemed to occur under the Act.

The provisions of s. 1147 (5) of the Act shall be dis-applied for the purposes of this Article 28.5.

 

28.6

Where the Company is able to show that any notice or other document given or sent under these Articles by electronic means was properly addressed with the electronic address supplied by the intended recipient, the giving or sending of that notice or other document shall be effective notwithstanding any receipt by the Company at any time of notice either that such method of communication has failed or of the intended recipient’s non-receipt.

Notice by means of a website

 

28.7	Subject to the provisions of the Act, any notice or other document or information to be given, sent or supplied by the Company to Shareholders under these Articles may be given, sent or supplied by the Company by making it available on the Company’s website.

General

 

28.8	In the case of joint holders of a share all notices shall be given to the joint holder whose name stands first in the register of members of the Company in respect of the joint holding (the “Primary Holder”). Notice so given shall constitute notice to all the joint holders.

 

28.9	Anything agreed or specified by the Primary Holder in relation to the service, sending or supply of notices, documents or other information shall be treated as the agreement or specification of all the joint holders in their capacity as such (whether for the purposes of the Act or otherwise).

 

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28.10

Subject to Article 28.15, no notice, document or other information shall be deemed served on or delivered to any member of the Scottish Enterprise Group if such service or delivery is by facsimile or electronic means via e-mail or a website.

 

28.11

Subject to Article 28.15, any notice, document or other information served or delivered to any member of the Scottish Enterprise Group shall be delivered to Atrium Court, 50 Waterloo Street, Glasgow, G2 6HQ, or such other principal place of business as Scottish Enterprise may notify from time to time and marked for the attention of The Head of Transactions with a copy sent to the Head of Portfolio Management at the same address.

 

28.12

Subject to Article 28.15, no notice, document or other information shall be deemed served on or delivered to Morningside in (i) hard copy; or (ii) posted in electronic form unless it is sent by guaranteed overnight courier delivery to the addresses provided by Morningside for that purpose, and deemed delivered when received by Morningside, and this Article 28 shall be amended accordingly.

 

28.13

Subject to Article 28.15, no notice, document or other information shall be deemed served on or delivered to Sofinnova Ventures if such service or delivery is by email or other electronic communication (including a website).

 

28.14

Subject to Article 28.15, any notice, document or other information served or delivered to Sofinnova Ventures shall be delivered by post or fax to 2800 Sand Hill Road, Suite 150, Menlo Park, CA 94025, Fax: 650-322-2037 and marked for the attention of Hooman Shahlavi, with a copy via email (not constituting notice) to Daniel Oates at doates@omm.com.

 

28.15

Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles, Articles 28.10 to 28.14 (inclusive) shall not apply in respect of any notice of general meeting issued by or on behalf of the Company.

 

29.	Indemnities and insurance

 

29.1	Subject to the provisions of and so far as may be permitted by, the Act:

 

(a)

every Director or other officer of the Company (excluding the Company’s auditors) shall be entitled to be indemnified by the Company (and the Company shall also be able to indemnify directors of any associated company (as defined in section 256 of the Act)) out of the Company’s assets against all liabilities incurred by him in the actual or purported execution or discharge of his duties or the exercise or purported exercise of his powers or otherwise in relation to or in connection with his duties, powers or office, provided that no director of the Company or any associated company is indemnified by the Company against:

 

(i)

any liability incurred by the director to the Company or any associated company; or

 

(ii)

any liability incurred by the director to pay a fine imposed in criminal proceedings or a sum payable to a regulatory authority by way of a penalty in respect of non-compliance with any requirements of a regulatory nature; or

 

(iii)

any liability incurred by the director:

 

(A)

in defending any criminal proceedings in which he is convicted;

 

(B)

in defending civil proceedings brought by the Company or any associated company in which final judgment (within the meaning set out in section 234 of the Act) is given against him; or

 

40

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(C)

in connection with any application under sections 661(3) or 661(4) or 1157 of the Act (as the case may be) for which the court refuses to grant him relief,

save that, in respect of a provision indemnifying a director of a company (whether or not the Company) that is a trustee of an occupational pension scheme (as that term is used in section 235 of the Act) against liability incurred in connection with that company’s activities as trustee of the scheme, the Company shall also be able to indemnify any such director without the restrictions in Articles 29.1(a)(i), 29.1(a)(iii)(B) and 29.1(a)(iii)(C) applying;

 

(b)

the Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to purchase and maintain insurance for any such Director or other officer against any liability which by virtue of any rule of law would otherwise attach to him in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which he may be guilty in relation to the Company, or any associated company including (if he is a director of a company which is a trustee of an occupational pension scheme) in connection with that company’s activities as trustee of an occupational pension scheme.

 

29.2

The Company shall (at the cost of the Company) effect and maintain for each Director policies of insurance insuring each Director against risks in relation to his office as each director may reasonably specify including without limitation, any liability which by virtue of any rule of law may attach to him in respect of any negligence, default of duty or breach of trust of which he may be guilty in relation to the Company.

 

30.	Data Protection

 

30.1

Each of the Shareholders and Directors consent to the processing of their personal data by the Company, the Shareholders and Directors (each a “Recipient”) for the purpose of due diligence exercises, compliance with applicable laws, regulations and procedures and the exchange of information among themselves. A Recipient may process the personal data either electronically or manually. The personal data which may be processed under this Article shall include any information which may have a bearing on the prudence or commercial merits of investing, or disposing of any shares (or other investment or security) in the Company. Other than as required by law, court order or other regulatory authority, that personal data may not be disclosed by a Recipient or any other person except to a Member of the same Group (“Recipient Group Companies”) and to employees, directors and professional advisers of that Recipient or the Recipient Group Companies and funds managed by any of the Recipient Group Companies. Each of the Shareholders and Directors consent to the transfer of relevant personal data to persons acting on behalf of the Recipient and to the offices of any Recipient both within and outside the European Economic Area for the purposes stated above, where it is necessary or desirable to do so.

 

31.

Secretary

Subject to the provisions of the Act, the Directors may appoint a secretary for such term, at such remuneration and upon such conditions as they may think fit; and any secretary so appointed may be removed by them.

 

32.

Lien

 

32.1

Subject to the provisions of the Act, the Company shall have a first and paramount lien (the “Company’s Lien”) over every Share not fully paid for all and any indebtedness of any holder of it to the Company (whether a sole holder or one of two or more joint holders), whether or not that indebtedness or liability is in respect of the Shares concerned and whether or not it is presently payable.

 

41

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32.2	The Company’s Lien over a Share:

 

(a)

shall take priority over any third party’s interest in that Share; and

 

(b)

extends to any dividend or other money payable by the Company in respect of that Share and (if the lien is enforced and the Share is sold by the Company) the proceeds of sale of that Share.

The Directors may at any time decide that a Share which is, or would otherwise be, subject to the Company’s Lien shall not be subject to it, either wholly or in part.

 

32.3	Subject to the provisions of this Article 32, if:

 

(a)

a notice complying with Article 32.4 (a “Lien Enforcement Notice”) has been given by the Company in respect of a Share; and

 

(b)

the person to whom the notice was given has failed to comply with it,

the Company shall be entitled to sell that Share in such manner as the Directors decide.

 

32.4	A Lien Enforcement Notice:

 

(a)

may only be given by the Company in respect of a Share which is subject to the Company’s Lien, in respect of which a sum is payable and the due date for payment of that sum has passed;

 

(b)

must specify the Share concerned;

 

(c)

must require payment of the sum payable within 14 days of the notice;

 

(d)

must be addressed either to the holder of the Share or to a person entitled to it by reason of the holder’s death, bankruptcy or otherwise; and

 

(e)

must state the Company’s intention to sell the Share if the notice is not complied with.

 

32.5	Where any Share is sold pursuant to this Article 32:

 

(a)

the Directors may authorise any person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Share to the purchaser or a person nominated by the purchaser; and

 

(b)

the transferee shall not be bound to see to the application of the consideration, and the transferee’s title shall not be affected by any irregularity in or invalidity of the process leading to the sale.

 

32.6	The net proceeds of any such sale (after payment of the costs of sale and any other costs of enforcing the lien) must be applied:

 

(a)

first, in payment of so much of the sum for which the lien exists as was payable at the date of the Lien Enforcement Notice;

 

(b)

secondly, to the person entitled to the Share at the date of the sale, but only after the certificate for the Share sold has been surrendered to the Company for cancellation or an indemnity in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Directors has been given for any lost certificate, and subject to a lien equivalent to the Company’s Lien for any money payable (whether or not it is presently payable) as existing upon the Share before the sale in respect of all Shares registered in the name of that person (whether as the sole registered holder or as one of several joint holders) after the date of the Lien Enforcement Notice.

 

42

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32.7	A statutory declaration by a Director or the company secretary that the declarant is a Director or the company secretary and that a Share has been sold to satisfy the Company’s Lien on a specified date:

 

(a)

shall be conclusive evidence of the facts stated in it as against all persons claiming to be entitled to the Share; and

 

(b)

subject to compliance with any other formalities of transfer required by these Articles or by law, shall constitute a good title to the Share.

 

33.	Call Notices

 

33.1

Subject to these Articles and the terms on which Shares are allotted, the Directors may send a notice (a “Call Notice”) to a Shareholder requiring the Shareholder to pay the Company a specified sum of money (a “call”) which is payable to the Company by that Shareholder when the Directors decide to send the Call Notice.

 

33.2	A Call Notice:

 

(a)

may not require a Shareholder to pay a call which exceeds the total sum unpaid on that Shareholder’s Shares (whether as to the Share’s nominal value or any sum payable to the Company by way of premium);

 

(b)

shall state when and how any call to which it relates it is to be paid; and

 

(c)

may permit or require the call to be paid by instalments.

 

33.3	A Shareholder shall comply with the requirements of a Call Notice, but no Shareholder shall be obliged to pay any call before 14 days have passed since the notice was sent.

 

33.4	Before the Company has received any call due under a Call Notice the Directors may:

 

(a)

revoke it wholly or in part; or

 

(b)

specify a later time for payment than is specified in the Call Notice, by a further notice in writing to the Shareholder in respect of whose Shares the call is made.

 

33.5	Liability to pay a call shall not be extinguished or transferred by transferring the Shares in respect of which it is required to be paid. Joint holders of a Share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect of that Share.

 

33.6	Subject to the terms on which Shares are allotted, the Directors may, when issuing Shares, provide that Call Notices sent to the holders of those Shares may require them to:

 

(a)

pay calls which are not the same; or

 

(b)

pay calls at different times.

 

33.7	A Call Notice need not be issued in respect of sums which are specified, in the terms on which a Share is issued, as being payable to the Company in respect of that Share (whether in respect of nominal value or premium):

 

(a)

on allotment;

 

(b)

on the occurrence of a particular event; or

 

43

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(c)

on a date fixed by or in accordance with the terms of issue.

 

33.8

If the due date for payment of such a sum as referred to in Article 33.7 has passed and it has not been paid, the holder of the Share concerned shall be treated in all respects as having failed to comply with a Call Notice in respect of that sum, and shall be liable to the same consequences as regards the payment of interest and forfeiture.

 

33.9	If a person is liable to pay a call and fails to do so by the Call Payment Date (as defined below):

 

(a)

the Directors may issue a notice of intended forfeiture to that person; and

 

(b)

until the call is paid, that person shall be required to pay the Company interest on the call from the call payment date at the Relevant Rate (as defined below).

 

33.10

For the purposes of Article 33.9:

 

(a)

the “Call Payment Date” shall be the time when the call notice states that a call is payable, unless the Directors give a notice specifying a later date, in which case the “Call Payment Date” is that later date;

 

(b)

the “Relevant Rate” shall be:

 

(i)

the rate fixed by the terms on which the Share in respect of which the call is due was allotted;

 

(ii)

such other rate as was fixed in the Call Notice which required payment of the call, or has otherwise been determined by the Directors; or

 

(iii)

if no rate is fixed in either of these ways, five per cent. a year,

provided that the Relevant Rate shall not exceed by more than five percentage points the base lending rate most recently set by the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England in connection with its responsibilities under Part 2 of the Bank of England Act 1998(a).

 

33.11

The Directors may waive any obligation to pay interest on a call wholly or in part.

 

33.12

The Directors may accept full payment of any unpaid sum in respect of a Share despite payment not being called under a Call Notice.

 

34.	Forfeiture of Shares

 

34.1	A notice of intended forfeiture:

 

(a)

may be sent in respect of any Share in respect of which a call has not been paid as required by a Call Notice;

 

(b)

shall be sent to the holder of that Share or to a person entitled to it by reason of the holder’s death, bankruptcy or otherwise;

 

(c)

shall require payment of the call and any accrued interest [and all expenses that may have been incurred by the Company by reason of such non-payment] by a date which is not fewer than 14 days after the date of the notice;

 

(d)

shall state how the payment is to be made; and

 

44

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(e)

shall state that if the notice is not complied with, the Shares in respect of which the call is payable will be liable to be forfeited.

 

34.2

If a notice of intended forfeiture is not complied with before the date by which payment of the call is required in the notice of intended forfeiture, then the Directors may decide that any Share in respect of which it was given is forfeited, and the forfeiture is to include all dividends or other moneys payable in respect of the forfeited Shares and not paid before the forfeiture.

 

34.3	Subject to these Articles, the forfeiture of a Share extinguishes:

 

(a)

all interests in that Share, and all claims and demands against the Company in respect of it; and

 

(b)

all other rights and liabilities incidental to the Share as between the person whose Share it was prior to the forfeiture and the Company.

 

34.4	Any Share which is forfeited in accordance with these Articles:

 

(a)

shall be deemed to have been forfeited when the Directors decide that it is forfeited;

 

(b)

shall be deemed to be the property of the Company; and

 

(c)

may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of as the Directors think fit.

 

34.5	If a person’s Shares have been forfeited then:

 

(a)

the Company shall send that person notice that forfeiture has occurred and record it in the register of members;

 

(b)

that person shall cease to be a Shareholder in respect of those Shares;

 

(c)

that person shall surrender the certificate for the Shares forfeited to the Company for cancellation;

 

(d)

that person shall remain liable to the Company for all sums payable by that person under the Articles at the date of forfeiture in respect of those Shares, including any interest (whether accrued before or after the date of forfeiture); and

 

(e)

the Directors shall be entitled to waive payment of such sums wholly or in part or enforce payment without any allowance for the value of the Shares at the time of forfeiture or for any consideration received on their disposal.

 

34.6	At any time before the Company disposes of a forfeited Share, the Directors shall be entitled to decide to cancel the forfeiture on payment of all calls and interest [and expenses] due in respect of it and on such other terms as they think fit.

 

34.7	If a forfeited Share is to be disposed of by being transferred, the Company shall be entitled to receive the consideration for the transfer and the Directors shall be entitled to authorise any person to execute the instrument of transfer.

 

34.8	A statutory declaration by a Director or the company secretary that the declarant is a Director or the company secretary and that a Share has been forfeited on a specified date:

 

(a)

shall be conclusive evidence of the facts stated in it as against all persons claiming to be entitled to the Share; and

 

45

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(b)

subject to compliance with any other formalities of transfer required by the Articles or by law, constitutes a good title to the Share.

 

34.9	A person to whom a forfeited Share is transferred shall not be bound to see to the application of the consideration (if any) nor shall that person’s title to the Share be affected by any irregularity in or invalidity of the process leading to the forfeiture or transfer of the Share.

 

34.10

If the Company sells a forfeited Share, the person who held it prior to its forfeiture shall be entitled to receive the proceeds of such sale from the Company, net of any commission, and excluding any sum which:

 

(a)

was, or would have become, payable; and

 

(b)

had not, when that Share was forfeited, been paid by that person in respect of that Share,

but no interest shall be payable to such a person in respect of such proceeds and the Company shall not be required to account for any money earned on such proceeds.

 

35.	Surrender of Shares

 

35.1	A Shareholder shall be entitled to surrender any Share:

 

(a)

in respect of which the Directors issue a notice of intended forfeiture;

 

(b)

which the Directors forfeit; or

 

(c)

which has been forfeited.

The Directors shall be entitled to accept the surrender of any such Share.

 

35.2	The effect of surrender on a Share shall be the same as the effect of forfeiture on that Share.

 

35.3	The Company shall be entitled to deal with a Share which has been surrendered in the same way as a Share which has been forfeited.

 

46

Exhibit 10.1

 

 

RULES OF THE

NuCana BioMed Limited

SHARE OPTION SCHEME (INCLUDING ENTERPRISE

MANAGEMENT INCENTIVES)

 

 

Approved and Adopted by the Board of NuCana BioMed Ltd

On 1^st August 2009

and

Amended and approved by the Board of NuCana BioMed Limited and its shareholders

on 15 & 17 November 2011

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CONTENTS

 

1.		INTERPRETATION			1
2.		PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE GRANT OF OPTIONS			6
3.		LIMITS AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS OF THE SCHEME RULES			8
4.		NON-ASSIGNABILITY OF OPTIONS			9
5.		EXERCISE CONDITIONS			9
6.		EXERCISE OF OPTION			9
7.		DEATH OF OPTION HOLDER			11
8.		CHANGE OF CONTROL, AND SALE OF THE COMPANY			11
9.		WINDING-UP OF THE COMPANY			13
10.		VARIATION OF CAPITAL			14
11.		ALTERATIONS TO THE RULES			15
12.		MISCELLANEOUS			15
13.		GOVERNING LAW			16

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NuCana Biomed Limited

SHARE OPTION SCHEME

RULES

(INCLUDING ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT INCENTIVES)

 

1.	INTERPRETATION

 

1.1	In these Rules (unless the context otherwise requires) the following words and expressions shall have the following meanings:

 

“Admission”		the admission of part of or the entire issued share capital of the Company (or any holding company of the Company) to listing on the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and to trading on the market for listed securities of London Stock Exchange plc, or to trading on AIM or to trading on any recognised investment exchange (as that term is defined in S841 ICTA)
“Adoption Date”		the date on which the Scheme is adopted by the Board/Company;
“AIM”		the market of that name operated by the London Stock Exchange Plc;
“Any Other EMI Scheme”		any scheme (other than the Scheme) adopted by the Company or any Group Member or by the Board which provides for the grant of options to acquire Shares which are Qualifying Options;
“Any Other Scheme”		any scheme (other than the Scheme) approved by the Company in general meeting or adopted by the Board which provides for the acquisition of Shares by or on behalf of employees or directors of the Group;
“Appropriate Period”		as defined in Rule 8.3;
“Associated Company”		has the meaning given to that expression by Section 416 ICTA;

 

1

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“Auditors”		the auditors for the time being of the Company (acting as experts and not as arbitrators);
“Board”		the board of directors for the time being of the Company or a committee thereof duly authorised for the purposes of the Scheme;
“Capital”		issued ordinary share capital of the Company;
“Close Period”		any period where there are restrictions on dealing in the shares as stipulated by a relevant authority including under the rules of AIM;
“Company”		NuCana BioMed Limited registered in the UK with registration number 03308778 and whose registered address is Butler & Co Accountants, 5 Southwell Park Road, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 3PU;
“Control”		has the meaning given to it by Section 840 ICTA and “Controlled” shall have a similar meaning;
“Date of Grant”		the date on which an Option was or is to be granted under Rule 2;
“Eligible Employee”		An employee or director of the Company or of a Qualifying Subsidiary and additionally, in the case of an Option which is to be granted as an EMI Option, a person who also satisfies the requirements of paragraphs 25 and 26 of Schedule 5, and whose average amount per week of reckonable time in relevant employment (as defined in Section 535(3) ITEPA and paragraph 26 Schedule 5) during a tax year is not less than 25 hours a week or such other relevant statutory threshold (provided that where the Board approves the grant of Unapproved Options to a person who has provided services to the Company and who does not satisfy the foregoing definition such person shall be deemed to be an Eligible Employee for the purposes of these Rules and such grant of Unapproved Options shall be binding);

 

2

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“EMI Code”		the provisions set out in Sections 527 to 541 ITEPA (inclusive), Schedule 5 and Part 4 Schedule 7D TCGA;
“EMI Option”		a right (for the time being subsisting) to acquire Shares under the Scheme in accordance with these Rules and which is a Qualifying Option;
“Exercise Conditions”		conditions, if any, determined by the Board at the Date of Grant and as set out in the Appendix of the Option Agreement required to be satisfied before the Option can be exercised, such conditions being subject to the provisions set out in Rule 5;
“FSMA”		the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;
“Group”		the Company and its Subsidiaries and “Group Member” shall be construed accordingly;
“HMRC”		HM Revenue and Customs;
“ICTA”		the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988;
“ITEPA”		the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003;
“Joint Election”		means a joint election pursuant to Sections 425, 430 or 431 ITEPA;
“Letter of Invitation”		a letter substantially in the form set out in schedule 1 to these Rules provided by the Company to an employee inviting him to accept the grant of an Option;
“Market Value”		has the same meaning as it has for the purposes of Part VIII TCGA and which shall be deemed to be:   (a)    the middle market quotation of a Share as decided from the Official List for the dealing day immediately preceding the Date of Grant; or

 

3

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		(b)    (if the Shares are not for the time being so quoted) the price determined by the Board, as being the market value of a Share on the day prior to the day on which the Option in question is granted
		and, for an EMI Option agreed by Shares Valuation at HMRC;
“Material Interest”		means an interest in the Company as set out in paragraph 29 of Schedule 5;
“NIC”		national insurance contributions;
“Notice of Exercise”		a notice of exercise substantially in the form set out in the Appendix to the Option Agreement;
“Notice of Grant”		in the case of Options which are to be EMI Options, a notification to HMRC to be jointly signed by   (a)    the employer company of the Option Holder and   (b)    the Option Holder   in such form required by HMRC from time to time;
“Official List”		the official listing as referred to in Part VI FSMA;
“Option”		an option to acquire Shares granted under these Rules, whether an EMI Option or an Unapproved Option;
“Option Agreement”		a written agreement between the Company and the Option Holder in the form of a deed substantially in the form set out in schedule 2 to these Rules and if it is an EMI Option containing the information required by Schedule 5;
“Option Holder”		a person who holds an Option or (where the context admits) his personal representatives;

 

4

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“Option Price”		the price at which each Share may be acquired on the exercise of an Option determined by the Board at the Date of Grant being not substantially less than the Market Value and, subject to Rule 10, not less than the nominal value of the Share where the Shares are to be acquired by direct issue from the Company;
“Qualifying Option”		an option which at the time of grant meets the requirements of Schedule 5 and in respect of which a Notice of Grant is executed;
“Qualifying Subsidiary”		has the meaning given in paragraph 11 of Schedule 5;
“Redundancy”		termination of employment by reason of redundancy in accordance with Section 139 Employment Rights Act 1996;
“Relevant CSOP Option”		an option to acquire shares under a scheme approved pursuant to the provisions of Schedule 4 ITEPA;
“Rules”		these rules of the Scheme as from time to time altered pursuant to the provisions of Rule 11;
“Sale”		the making of one or more agreements (whether conditional or not) for an acquisition of the Capital of the Company giving rise to a change of Control of the Company;
“Schedule 5”		Schedule 5 ITEPA;
“Scheme”		means the NuCana Biomed Limited Share Option Scheme;
“Secondary NIC Liability”		any employer’s secondary NIC charge arising on the exercise or release of an Option;
“Share”		a fully paid ordinary share of the Company;
“Subsidiaries”		a subsidiary as defined under section 736 Companies Act 1985;

 

5

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“Tax Liabilities”		any income tax and NIC charge arising as a consequence of the exercise or release of the Option or in respect of the Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of such options and including arising under a Joint Election or receipt of money or money’s worth in connection with such Options or the acquired Shares, for which the Company or a Group Member has accounted or is required to account for to HMRC and including, unless otherwise stated, where permitted by law the employer’s national insurance contributions (or their equivalent);
“TCGA”		the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992;
“UK Listing Authority”		the Financial Services Authority acting in its capacity as the competent authority for the purposes of Part VI Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;
“Unapproved Option”		an option to acquire Shares granted under this Scheme and subject to these Rules which:   (a)    is designated an Unapproved Option; and/or   (b)    does not fall within the provisions of Schedules 3, 4 or 5 ITEPA and does not satisfy the EMI Code but in respect of which these Rules apply.

 

1.2	Words denoting the singular shall include the plural and vice versa and words denoting the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender.

 

1.3	Rule headings are inserted for convenience only and are to be ignored in construing these Rules.

 

1.4	References in these Rules to any statute shall be deemed to include every modification, amendment and/or re-enactment by statute or sub-ordinate legislation for the time being in force.

 

1.5	References in these Rules to “month’ shall be deemed to be references to a calendar month.

 

2.	PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE GRANT OF OPTIONS

 

2.1	In its absolute discretion, the Board has the power to grant Options (whether EMI Options or Unapproved Options) under the Scheme to Eligible Employees:

 

(a)

subject to the limitations and conditions contained in these Rules;

 

(b)

provided they are not prohibited by law; and

 

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(c)

for commercial reasons in order to recruit or retain an Eligible Employee in the Group.

 

2.2	The procedure for granting Options shall be as follows:

 

(a)

the Board shall by resolution:

 

(i)

select a number of Eligible Employees to whom Options shall be granted and the intended Date of Grant;

 

(ii)

determine the maximum number of Shares which each such Eligible Employee shall be entitled to acquire on the exercise of the Options;

 

(iii)

determine the Option Price, the periods during which Options may be exercised, and any Exercise Conditions to apply to the option to be granted;

 

(iv)

specify which Options shall be EMI Options or Unapproved Options;

 

(v)

determine if the Option Holder is to indemnify against secondary NIC Liability under Rule 2.6;

 

(b)

the Board shall send to each selected Eligible Employee the following documents to invite him or her to enter into an Option Agreement:

 

(i)

a Letter of Invitation;

 

(ii)

a copy Letter of Invitation (to sign and return);

 

(iii)

an Option Agreement;

 

(iv)

a Notice of Grant;

 

(v)

a copy of the Rules;

 

(vi)

any Explanatory Notes (if prepared); and

 

(vii)

the Articles of Association of the Company;

 

(c)

the Option Agreement must be duly executed by the Company and the Eligible Employee within 14 days of the date of the Letter of Invitation (or such other date determined by the Board) and the date when the Option Agreement is duly executed shall be the date of the Date of Grant.

 

2.3	The Option Agreement shall serve as evidence of the grant of the Option and accordingly no further certificate shall be issued to the Option Holder.

 

2.4	The Option shall state if the Option is being granted as an EMI Option, or to what extent it is being granted as an EMI Option; otherwise it shall be granted as an Unapproved Option.

 

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2.5

If an Option Agreement is not duly executed as required under Rule 2.2 within the time limit specified the terms of the Letter of Invitation shall immediately lapse at the end of the period referred to therein and the Option shall not be granted nor be deemed to have been granted to the Eligible Employee.

 

2.6	It shall be a condition of the grant of an Option that the Option Holder:

 

(a)

indemnifies the Company and any other Group Member to the extent permitted by law against any Tax Liabilities and where the Board so requires Secondary NIC Liability (together referred to as “Liabilities”); and

 

(b)

enters into a Joint Election should the Board so require at any time prior to and as a condition of the exercise of the Option.

 

3.	LIMITS AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS OF THE SCHEME RULES

 

3.1	An EMI Option granted to an Eligible Employee under these Rules shall be limited and take effect so that the aggregate Market Value at the Date of Grant of Shares which may be acquired on the exercise of that EMI Option when added to:

 

(a)

the aggregate Market Value at the Date of Grant of Shares which may be acquired on the exercise of Qualifying Options granted to him pursuant to the Scheme and Any Other EMI Scheme; and

 

(b)

the aggregate Market Value at Date of Grant of Shares which may be acquired on the exercise of any Relevant CSOP Option held by such Eligible Employee at the Date of Grant

 

shall

not exceed £120,000 or such other sum as determined under paragraph 5 Schedule 5.

 

3.2	To the extent that the aggregate Market Value of Shares under any EMI Option exceeds such sum as referred to in Rule 3.1, any Option granted over Shares representing the excess shall be granted under an Unapproved Option.

 

3.3	Pursuant to Rule 3.1 the Market Value of Shares shall be calculated at the time the options in relation to those Shares is granted or such other time as agreed in writing by HMRC.

 

3.4

If an Eligible Employee has previously been granted Qualifying Options under the Scheme or Any Other EMI Scheme over Shares with an aggregate Market Value of £120,000 as referred to in Rule 3.1 above (including EMI Options which have since been exercised or released) then any Option which shall be granted to such Eligible Employee within three years of the Date of Grant of the last such Qualifying Option shall be an Unapproved Option.

 

3.5	No Option shall be granted at a date more than ten years after the Adoption Date without further authorisation by the Company in general meeting.

 

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3.6

Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Rules the Company may not issue Qualifying Options under the Scheme or any Other EMI Scheme such that the Market Value at the date of grant of Shares subject to such Qualifying Options exceeds £3 million or such other sum as determined under paragraph 7 Schedule 5.

 

4.	NON-ASSIGNABILITY OF OPTIONS

Except as otherwise specifically provided in these Rules, each Option shall be exercisable only by the Option Holder to whom it is granted and may not be transferred, assigned or charged, and on any purported transfer, assignment or charge the Option shall automatically lapse.

 

5.	EXERCISE CONDITIONS

 

5.1	Exercise Conditions (if any) shall be:

 

(a)

in respect of dates or events or profits or individual or collective performance criteria for a period which begins no earlier than the start of the accounting period in which the Date of Grant falls; and

 

(b)

capable of independent objective assessment with a view to determining whether they have been satisfied; and

 

(c)

set out in detail at the Date of Grant in the Option Agreement.

 

5.2	Different Exercise Conditions may be specified in respect of different numbers of the Shares comprised in the same Option.

 

5.3

Subject to the provisions of these Rules where an Option has been granted subject to Exercise Conditions, the Board shall as soon as reasonably practicable following the satisfaction of any Exercise Conditions give written notice to inform the Option Holder concerned that his Option has become exercisable subject always to the provisions of Rule 6.

 

5.4	Where events happen which cause the Board to consider that the Exercise Conditions are no longer appropriate, or the Board at its entire discretion so decides, it may:

 

(a)

vary the Exercise Conditions provided that the new Exercise Conditions are not more difficult to satisfy than the original Performance Conditions; or

 

(b)

remove the Exercise Conditions as a requirement of the exercise of the Option;

PROVIDED that the Option Holder is given notice in writing of the variation or removal as soon as practicable.

 

6.	EXERCISE OF OPTION

 

6.1	An Option shall be exercised:-

 

(a)

pursuant to the terms of exercise set out in the Option Agreement; and

 

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(b)

by lodging with the Company Secretary or such other person as the Board may specify, the relevant Option Agreement, a duly completed Notice of Exercise and (subject to Rule 8.6) the payment required in respect of the Option Price and any Tax Liabilities and secondary NIC liability.

 

6.2	Lapse of Options

An Option shall cease to be exercisable and shall lapse forthwith on the occurrence of the following events:-

 

(a)

5pm on the day before the tenth anniversary of the grant of the Option;

 

(b)

the Option Holder does or suffers any act or thing (including bankruptcy) whereby he would or might be deprived of the legal or beneficial ownership of the Option;

 

(c)

the lapsing events referred to in Rules 4, 7, 8 and 9.

 

6.3	Result of Exercise of Options

 

(a)

Subject to:

 

(i)

the obtaining of any necessary consent from H.M. Treasury, the Bank of England, the UK Listing Authority, the London Stock Exchange Plc or other relevant authority;

 

(ii)

the terms of any such consent;

 

(iii)

receipt by the Company of the appropriate payment for Shares to be acquired on exercise in full

the Company shall (subject to Rule 8.7) within 30 days of receipt by the Company Secretary of a valid Notice of Exercise issue to or arrange the transfer to the Option Holder the number of Shares in respect of which the Option has been exercised (but if during a Close Period such issue or transfer shall be effected as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of the Close Period).

 

(b)

The Board shall at all times keep available sufficient unissued Shares or shall procure that there are available sufficient Shares to satisfy the exercise of all Options granted under the Scheme. For this purpose the Board may enter into an agreement with any individual, company or the trustees of any employee benefit trust for the provision by such persons of Shares to satisfy Options. In such case, and if appropriate, the Option Price payable by the Option Holder shall be received by a member of the Board as trustee for such persons (to whom it shall account) and the Board shall procure the transfer of Shares by such persons upon exercise of the Option.

 

(c)

All Shares issued on exercise of Options shall on issue rank equally in all respects with the Company’s existing Shares of the same class, save that the Shares issued under the Scheme will not rank for any dividends or other distributions declared or recommended the record date for which falls on or prior to the date when the Option is exercised.

 

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6.4	Tax Liability

 

(a)

It being a condition of the grant of an Option that each Option Holder indemnifies the Company and any other Group Member against Tax Liabilities and/or secondary NIC Liabilities (“Liabilities”) pursuant to Rule 2.6(a), to the extent that the Liabilities cannot be (or are not) deducted from payments made by the Company or Group Member to the Option Holder, the Company shall be authorised by the Option Holder:-

 

(i)

to retain and sell on the Option Holder’s behalf sufficient Shares issued or acquired on exercise of the Option to raise the necessary funds to meet and to apply such funds in discharging the Liabilities or reimbursing the Company or the relevant Group Member; and/or

 

(ii)

to make such other arrangements with the Option Holder in question as the Board deems appropriate for the reimbursement to the Company or relevant Group Member of the Liabilities.

 

7.	DEATH OF OPTION HOLDER

Subject to Rule 6.2 and subject to Rule 5:

 

7.1	If an Option Holder dies before exercising an Option or part thereof, the Option may (and must, if at all) be exercised by his personal representatives to the extent that any Exercise Conditions have been met within the period ending on the earlier of:

 

(a)

the expiry of 12 months after the date of death; and

 

(b)

the time referred to in Rule 6.2(a),

and failing such exercise the Option shall lapse.

 

8.	CHANGE OF CONTROL, AND SALE OF THE COMPANY

 

8.1	Change of Control - If:

 

(a)

any person or group of persons acting in concert obtains Control of the Company as a result of making:

 

(i)

an offer to acquire more than 50% of the Capital of the Company which is made on a condition such that if it is satisfied the person or group of persons will have Control of the Company; or

 

(ii)

a general offer to acquire all the Capital (or all the shares which are of the same class of those to which the Option relates); or

 

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(b)

any person becomes entitled or bound to acquire shares in the capital of the Company under Sections 428 to 430F of the Companies Act 1985; or

 

(c)

under Section 425 of the Companies Act 1985 the court sanctions a compromise or arrangement proposed for the purposes of or in connection with a scheme for the reconstruction of the Company or its amalgamation with any other company or companies;

and if the Option Agreement allows for exercise of the Option on a Change of Control, an Option Holder (or his personal representative) may at any time during the three days prior to or within the Appropriate Period, exercise any Option or part thereof which has not lapsed. Any Option which is not so exercised shall lapse at the expiry of the Appropriate Period.

 

8.2	Replacement Options:

 

(a)

If a company (in this Rule called the “Acquiring Company”) has acquired Control of the Company as a result of any of the events described in Rule 8.1(a) or 8.1(c), or becomes entitled or bound as mentioned in Rule 8.1(b) or obtains all the shares of the Company whose shares are subject to any outstanding Qualifying Options as a result of a qualifying exchange of shares (as defined in paragraph 40(1) Schedule 5) (such acquiring of Control or becoming entitled or bound or obtains, being referred to below as a “Specific Event”), any Option Holder may by agreement with the Acquiring Company at any time within the Appropriate Period as defined in Rule 8.3 below release his rights in respect of any EMI Option held by him (in this Rule referred to as the “Old Option”) in consideration of the grant to him of rights (in this Rule referred to as the “Replacement Option”) which are equivalent and relate to shares in the Acquiring Company, and which comply with Rule 8.2(b).

 

(b)

A Replacement Option is one in relation to which the requirements of paragraph 43 of Schedule 5 are satisfied at the time of release of the Old Option including grant by reason of the Option Holder’s employment with the Acquiring Company.

 

8.3	“Appropriate Period” means:

 

(a)

in a case falling within Rule 8.1(a) and where Rule 8.1(b) does not apply, the period of six months beginning with the time when the person making the offer has obtained Control of the Company and any condition subject to which the offer is made is satisfied;

 

(b)

in a case falling within Rule 8.1(b) the period during which the person remains bound or entitled as mentioned in that paragraph; and

 

(c)

in a case falling within Rule 8.1(c) the period of six months beginning with the time when the court sanctions the compromise or arrangement.

 

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8.4

If a Replacement Option shall be granted to an Option Holder by reference to any Specific Event, Rules 8.1(a), 8.1(b) and 8.1(c) above shall cease to apply by reference to that Specific Event (but without prejudice to their application by reference to any other Specific Event). Any EMI Option which is not exercised or released pursuant to this Rule within the Appropriate Period following a Specific Event (but not any Replacement Option granted by reference to that Specific Event) shall lapse.

 

8.5

Sale: If the Option Agreement allows for exercise of the Option on a Sale, in the event that the Board becomes aware that there may be a Sale of the Company they shall give notice (a “Sale Notice”) in writing to the Option Holder specifying that a Sale may be forthcoming and that the Option will lapse immediately following the sale if not exercised prior to completion of the Sale unless a Replacement Option is offered to the Option Holder in accordance with Clause 8.2 (or unless some other form of replacement option is offered by the prospective purchaser).

 

8.6

At any time after receipt of a Sale Notice under Clause 8.5 and prior to completion of the Sale, the Option Holder may exercise the Option in accordance with Clause 6 but only on the basis that the Option Holder agrees to sell to the purchaser on completion of the Sale all the Shares acquired as a result of the exercise of the Option. Any such Exercise Notice from the Option Holder shall be accompanied by a cheque for the aggregate Option Price but shall specify the number of Shares over which the Option Holder wishes to exercise his Option, and any such notice may not be withdrawn without the consent of the Board.

 

8.7	Completion of the subscription for, or transfer of, the Shares shall take place prior to completion of the Sale and the Company shall issue and allot the relevant Shares in favour of the Option Holder and shall register such issue and allotment or transfer prior to completion of the Sale.

 

8.8

In the event that the Sale proceeds are received directly by the Option Holder, the Option Holder undertakes to reimburse the Company (or any other Group Company) for a sum equal to the aggregate Option Price, along with any Tax liabilities and/or secondary NIC Liability that may be due in relation to the exercise of the Option, whether by deduction under clause 6.4 or otherwise.

 

8.9	Clauses 8.5 to 8.8 above dealing with a Sale shall take priority over Clause 8.1 dealing with other forms of Change of Control and for the avoidance of doubt in the event of a Sale, Clause 8.1 will not apply but clauses 8.2 to 8.4 may apply.

 

9.	WINDING-UP OF THE COMPANY

 

9.1

If at any time while any Option remains unexercised notice is duly given of a general meeting of the Company at which a resolution will be proposed for the voluntary liquidation of the Company, every Option which has not lapsed prior to such resolution shall be exercisable in whole or in part until the commencement of such winding-up within the meaning of Section 86 of the Insolvency Act 1986.

 

9.2

Pursuant to the above Rule 9.1 the Company shall give to each Option Holder holding any unexercised Option notice of any meeting called for the purpose of considering a resolution for the voluntary liquidation of the Company and shall at the same time give him notice of his rights under this Rule 9 and subject to the foregoing, all Options shall lapse on the commencement of any liquidation of the Company.

 

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10.	VARIATION OF CAPITAL

 

10.1	Subject to Rules 10.3 and 10.4 below, in the event of any increase or variation of the Capital (whenever effected) by way of capitalisation or rights issue, or sub-division, consolidation or reduction, the Board may make such adjustments as they consider appropriate under Rule 10.2 below.

 

10.2	An adjustment made under this Rule 10 shall be to one or more of the following:

 

(a)

the number of Shares in respect of which any Option granted under the Scheme may be exercised;

 

(b)

the price at which shares may be acquired by the exercise of any such Option;

 

(c)

where any such Option has been exercised but no Shares have been transferred pursuant to such exercise, the number of Shares which may be so transferred and the price at which they may be acquired.

 

10.3	Except in the case of a capitalisation issue, no adjustment under Rule 10.2 above shall be made without the prior confirmation in writing by the Auditors or other share valuers to the Board that it is in their opinion fair and reasonable.

 

10.4	No adjustment under Rule 10.2 above shall be made

 

(a)

which would affect EMI Options which are Qualifying Options without the prior approval of HM Revenue and Customs if so required;

 

(b)

as a result of which the aggregate amount payable on the exercise of an Option in full would be increased or reduced.

 

10.5

An adjustment under Rule 10.2 above may have the effect of reducing the price at which Shares may be acquired by the exercise of the Option to less than their nominal value, but only if and to the extent that the Board shall be authorised to capitalise from the reserves of the Company a sum equal to the amount by which the nominal value of the Shares in respect of which the Option is exercised and which are to be allotted pursuant to such exercise exceeds the price at which the same may be subscribed for, and to apply such sum in paying up such amount on such Shares, and so that on exercise of any Option in respect of which such a reduction shall have been made, the Board shall capitalise such sum (if any) and apply the same in paying up such amount as aforesaid.

 

10.6	As soon as reasonably practicable after making any adjustment under Rule 10.2 above, the Board shall give notice in writing thereof to each Option Holder.

 

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11.	ALTERATIONS TO THE RULES

 

11.1	The Board may by resolution at any time make any alteration to the Rules which it thinks fit subject to the provisions of this Rule 11.

 

11.2	No such alteration which would affect an EMI Option which is a Qualifying Option shall take effect if the result would be:

 

(a)

to increase the aggregate Market Value of the Shares that are the subject of such Qualifying Option; or

 

(b)

that the requirements of Schedule 5 would cease to be met in relation to such EMI Option.

 

11.3	No alteration shall be made which would materially increase the liability of any Option Holder or which would materially decrease the value of his subsisting rights attached to any Option without in each case that Option Holder’s prior written consent.

 

11.4

No alteration shall take effect without the prior approval of the Company in general meeting (except for minor amendments to benefit administration of the Scheme, to comply with or to take account of any applicable legislation or statutory regulations or any change therein or any requirements of HM Revenue and Customs for the approval of the Scheme under any such legislation or regulations or to obtain or maintain favourable taxation treatment for the Company or the Option Holders or potential Option Holders).

 

11.5	As soon as reasonably practicable after making any alteration under Rule 11.1 above the Board shall give notice in writing thereof to each Option Holder.

 

12.	MISCELLANEOUS

 

12.1

Any Option granted pursuant to the Rules shall not form part of the contract of employment of any person who participates in the Scheme. The rights and obligations of any individual under the terms of his office or employment with any Group Member shall not be affected by his participation in the Scheme or any right which he may have to participate therein, and an individual who participates therein shall waive any and all rights to compensation or damages in consequence of the termination of his office or employment for any reason whatsoever (including unfair or wrongful dismissal) insofar as those rights arise or may arise from his ceasing to have rights under or be entitled to exercise any Option under the Scheme as a result of such termination. No such participation, rights or benefits shall be taken into account for the purposes of calculating the amount payable to any pension fund. Options granted pursuant to the Scheme shall not constitute any representation or warranty that any benefit will accrue to any individual who is granted an Option.

 

12.2	The Scheme shall in all respects be administered by the Board who may from time to time make and vary such rules and regulations for its conduct not inconsistent with these Rules and may from time to time establish such procedures for administration and implementation of the Scheme and

 

15

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Rules as it thinks fit, and in the event of any dispute or disagreement as to the interpretation of the Rules, or of any rule, regulation or procedure, or as to any question or right arising from or related to the Scheme, the decision of the Board shall be final and binding upon all persons (subject to the written concurrence of the Auditors having been obtained when so required by the Rules).

 

12.3	Any Group Member may provide money to the trustees of any trust or any other person to enable them or him to acquire shares to be held for the purposes of the Scheme, or enter into any guarantee or indemnity for these purposes, to the extent permitted by section 153 of the Companies Act 1985.

 

12.4	In any matter in which they are required to act under the Rules, the Auditors shall be deemed to be acting as experts and not as arbitrators and the Arbitration Acts 1950 to 1996 shall not apply to these Rules.

 

12.5

Any notice or other communication under or in connection with the Rules may be given by personal delivery or by sending the same by post, in the case of a company to its registered office and in the case of an individual to his last known address, or, where he is a director or employee of a Company participating in the Scheme, either to his last known address or to the address of the place of business at which he performs the whole or substantially the whole of the duties of his office or employment, and where a notice or other communication is given by first-class post, it shall be deemed to have been received 48 hours after it was put into the post properly addressed and stamped.

 

12.6	The costs of introducing and administering the Scheme shall be borne by the Company or any Group Member.

 

12.7	The Board shall maintain all necessary books of account and records relating to the Scheme.

 

12.8	Subject to the Articles of Association of the Company, an Option Holder who is a director of the Company may, notwithstanding his interest, vote on any resolution concerning the Scheme (other than in respect of his own participation therein) and may retain any benefits under the Scheme.

 

13.	GOVERNING LAW

The Rules and the Scheme shall in all respects be governed by the laws of England.

Form of Option Agreement

This Agreement which is in the form of a deed is made the day of             200●

BETWEEN

 

(1)	NuCana Biomed Limited (03308778 ) whose registered office is at Butler & Co Accountants, 5 Southwell Park Road, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 3PU (“Company”); and

 

(2)	[employee name] of [employee address] who will become “the Option Holder”

 

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RECITALS

 

A.	This EMI/Unapproved Option is granted subject to the rules of the                NuCana Biomed Limited Share Option Scheme, and is granted pursuant to Schedule 5 ITEPA 2003 (“Scheme”).

 

B.	A copy of the rules which is appended to this Agreement provides for the grant of options for commercial reasons in order to recruit and retain key employees (“Rules”).

NOW THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSES

 

1.	In this Agreement the definitions in the Rules shall apply.

 

2.	The Company hereby grants to the Option Holder the EMI Option to acquire a maximum of [                ] Shares, at an Option Price of * per Share.

 

3

Exercise

 

3.1

The options shall be exercisable as follows:

 

•

X options may be exercised at any time after 12 months from the date of grant

 

•

a further X options may be exercised at any time after 24 months from the date of grant

 

•

the final X options may be exercised at any time after 36 months from the date of grant

 

3.2

All unexercised options will also be able to be exercised on the occasion of Admission, a change of control, or sale of the company.

 

4.	The EMI/Unapproved Option may not be exercised:

 

4.1

after the time in Rule 6.2(a);

 

4.2

from the date the Option Holder ceases to be an employee of the Company or of any Qualifying Subsidiary [except to the extent provided in Rule 7;

 

4.3

following a Change of Control or a Sale of the Company except to the extent provided in Rule 8;

 

4.4

following the commencement of the winding up of the Company as set out in Rule 9.

 

5.	The EMI/Unapproved Option will lapse on the occurrence of any of the events as set out in Rule 6.2.

 

6.	To exercise the EMI/Unapproved Option the Option Holder must lodge with the Company Secretary of the Company (or such other person as the Company may from time to time notify to the employee in writing):

 

6.1

this Option Agreement;

 

17

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6.2

a duly completed Notice of Exercise in the form appended to this Option Agreement;

 

6.3

where required by the Company, a duly completed Joint Election; and

 

6.4

a cheque made payable to the Company in respect of the Option Price.

 

7.	The employee hereby:

 

7.1

covenants with the Company to allow the Company to recover from the Option Holder Tax Liabilities arising in connection with or as a result of the exercise of the EMI/unapproved Option and to indemnify and keep indemnified on a continuing basis the Company and any Group Member in respect of such Tax Liabilities and for the purposes of such indemnity:

 

7.2

hereby authorises the Company to deduct sufficient funds which, in the reasonable opinion of the Board, would be equal to any Tax Liabilities from any payment made to or in respect of the Option Holder by it or any Group Member during the same calendar month or other relevant period in which such Tax Liabilities arise. If there is no such payment made or the Tax Liabilities exceed the amount of such payment the Option Holder hereby agrees to pay the full amount of the Tax Liabilities or any such excess (as the case may be) in cleared funds within seven days of a valid demand by the Company or any Group Member; and

 

7.3

appoints a member of the Board as his [trustee] for the purposes of providing the Company or any Group Member (as appropriate) with sufficient funds to recover any Tax Liabilities by receiving on trust or retaining on trust (as the case may be) (out of the total number of Shares to which the Option Holder is entitled following the relevant exercise of the EMI/unapproved Option) the legal title to and selling such number of Shares as, in the reasonable opinion of the Board, is required to realise a cash amount equivalent to the Tax Liabilities and the Option Holder hereby covenants to pay to the Company, should such sale realise a cash amount less than the Tax Liabilities, an amount equal to the difference within seven working days of demand by the Company.

 

8.	The EMI/unapproved Option is exercisable only by the Option Holder (or his personal representatives) and may not be transferred, assigned or charged and the EMI/unapproved Option will lapse on the occasion of any assignment, charge, disposal or other dealing with the rights conveyed by it.

 

9.	The Company has agreed or will agree the Market Value of a Share for the purposes of this Scheme as at the Date of Grant with HM Revenue and Customs.

 

10.	A person who is not a party to this deed shall have no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of this deed. This clause does not affect any right or remedy of any person which exists or is available otherwise than pursuant to that Act.

 

11.	The Shares which will be acquired when the Option is exercised are subject to the terms and restrictions set out in the Company’s articles of association, and a copy of the current articles of association is attached.

 

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APPENDIX

Form of Notice of Exercise

Please read the notes at the foot of his form carefully before completing it

 

To:	The Secretary

NuCana Biomed Limited

I, the undersigned¹, having become entitled so to do, hereby exercise the EMI Option referred to in the attached Agreement in respect of Shares comprised in the EMI/Unapproved Option upon the terms of the NuCana Biomed Limited Share Option Scheme (“Scheme”) and agree to accept the Shares to be allotted and issued pursuant to this Notice of Exercise subject to and in accordance with the memorandum and articles of association of the Company and hereby request you to place my name on the register of members in respect thereof.

I enclose a remittance for £² being the aggregate Option Price payable for the Shares in respect of which the EMI/Unapproved Option is now exercised, the Option Price (per Share) being [                ].

I understand that income tax and NIC (referred to as a Tax Liabilities in the Rules of the Scheme) may need to be accounted for by the Company to HM Revenue and Customs on this exercise and in respect of which I have indemnified the Company. I further understand that the Company has an obligation to deduct, insofar as possible, the amount of any Tax Liabilities from payments that it makes to me and I authorise the Company to make such deductions from my salary.

(please tick as appropriate³)

 

☐		I wish to make a cash payment to the Company in respect of the outstanding Tax Liabilities (after deduction by the Company) arising from this exercise and enclose a second cheque made payable to the Company for £●.
☐		I authorise the Company to retain and to sell on my behalf sufficient Shares so as to realise an amount sufficient to discharge the Tax Liabilities arising from this exercise.

If applicable, I hereby request you to despatch a balance certificate for the [EMI/Unapproved] Option to subscribe for any Shares included in the [EMI/Unapproved] Option referred to overleaf and not exercised on this occasion, by post at my risk to the address mentioned below.

 

Signature:						Date:
Surname:
Forename(s):
Address:

[If the shares are restricted under ITEPA the Option Holder should be required to enter into a Joint Election with the Company to which this Exercise Notice should refer.]

 

1

Although the Option referred to overleaf is personal to the holder named overleaf it may be exercised by his personal representative(s) if he dies while the Option is still capable of exercise provided the personal representative(s) does/do so before the expiration of 12 months from the date of the Option Holder’s death or 10 years from the date of its grant (if sooner). If there are more than one, each of the personal representatives must sign this form. A copy of the Grant of Probate must be provided with the completed Notice of Exercise.

2	The remittance should be for an amount equal to the Option Price per Share shown overleaf, multiplied by the number of Shares applied for.

3

Please tick the appropriate box. If you fail to tick a box or if you tick the first box but your cash payment or next month’s salary are insufficient to cover the full liability, the Company will retain and sell sufficient shares to cover the liability or shortfall or will withhold the transferring of the shares to you until the full tax liabilities have been met by you.

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In Witness whereof the parties have signed this Agreement on the date specified above:

 

EXECUTED as a DEED		)
but not delivered until the date hereof		)
for and on behalf of THE COMPANY		)
		Director
		Director/Secretary
SIGNED as a DEED		)
but not delivered until the date hereof		)
by ●		)
in the presence of:		)

 

Name of Witness
Address

Table of Contents

Exhibit 10.2

RULES OF THE

NuCana BioMed Limited

SHARE OPTION SCHEME (INCLUDING ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT INCENTIVES)

Approved and Adopted by the Board of NuCana BioMed Ltd

On 3^rd July 2012

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Table of Contents

CONTENTS

 

1.      INTERPRETATION			1
2.       PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE GRANT OF OPTIONS			7
3.       LIMITS AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS OF THE SCHEME RULES			8
4.       NON-ASSIGNABILITY OF OPTIONS			9
5.      EXERCISE CONDITIONS			9
6.      EXERCISE OF OPTION			10
7.       BAD LEAVER OR DEATH OF OPTION HOLDER			12
8.       CHANGE OF CONTROL, AND SALE OF THE COMPANY			13
9.       WINDING-UP OF THE COMPANY			15
10.    VARIATION OF CAPITAL			15
11.    ALTERATIONS TO THE RULES			16
12.    MISCELLANEOUS			16
13.    GOVERNING LAW			18

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Table of Contents

NuCana Biomed Limited

SHARE OPTION SCHEME

RULES

(INCLUDING ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT INCENTIVES)

 

1.	INTERPRETATION

 

1.1	In these Rules (unless the context otherwise requires) the following words and expressions shall have the following meanings:

 

“Admission”

the admission of part of or the entire issued share capital of the Company (or any holding company of the Company) to listing on the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and to trading on the market for listed securities of London Stock Exchange plc, or to trading on AIM or to trading on any recognised investment exchange (as that term is defined in S841 ICTA)

 

“Adoption Date”

the date on which the Scheme is adopted by the Board/Company;

 

“AIM”

the market of that name operated by the London Stock Exchange Plc;

 

“Any Other EMI Scheme”

any scheme (other than the Scheme) adopted by the Company or any Group Member or by the Board which provides for the grant of options to acquire Shares which are Qualifying Options;

 

“Any Other Scheme”

any scheme (other than the Scheme) approved by the Company in general meeting or adopted by the Board which provides for the acquisition of Shares by or on behalf of employees or directors of the Group;

 

“Appropriate Period”

as defined in Rule 8.3;

 

“Associated Company”

has the meaning given to that expression by Section 416 ICTA;

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“Auditors”

the auditors for the time being of the Company (acting as experts and not as arbitrators);

 

“Board”

the board of directors for the time being of the Company or a committee thereof duly authorised for the purposes of the Scheme;

 

“Capital”

issued ordinary share capital of the Company;

 

“Close Period”

any period where there are restrictions on dealing in the shares as stipulated by a relevant authority including under the rules of AIM;

 

“Company”

NuCana BioMed Limited registered in the UK with registration number 03308778 and whose registered address is Butler & Co Accountants, 5 Southwell Park Road, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 3PU;

 

“Control”

has the meaning given to it by Section 840 ICTA and “Controlled” shall have a similar meaning;

 

“Date of Grant”

the date on which an Option was or is to be granted under Rule 2;

 

“Eligible Employee”

An employee or director of the Company or of a Qualifying Subsidiary and additionally, in the case of an Option which is to be granted as an EMI Option, a person who also satisfies the requirements of paragraphs 25 and 26 of Schedule 5, and whose average amount per week of reckonable time in relevant employment (as defined in Section 535(3) ITEPA and paragraph 26 Schedule 5) during a tax year is not less than 25 hours a week or such other relevant statutory threshold;

 

“EMI Code”

the provisions set out in Sections 527 to 541 ITEPA (inclusive), Schedule 5 and Part 4 Schedule 7D TCGA;

 

“EMI Option”

a right (for the time being subsisting) to acquire Shares under the Scheme in accordance with these Rules and which is a Qualifying Option;

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“Exercise Conditions”

conditions, if any, determined by the Board at the Date of Grant and as set out in the Appendix of the Option Agreement required to be satisfied before the Option can be exercised, such conditions being subject to the provisions set out in Rule 5;

 

“FSMA”

the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;

 

“Good Leaver”

an Option Holder who ceases to be an Eligible Employee of the Company or of a Qualifying Subsidiary by reason:

(a)    of cessation of employment or office with any Group Member due to ill health, injury or disability, redundancy or retirement on reaching the age at which he is bound to retire in accordance with the terms of his contract of employment; or

(b)    only that his office or employment is in a company of which the Company ceases to have Control; or

(c)    his office or employment relates to a business or part of a business which is transferred to a person who is neither an Associated Company of the Company nor a company of which the Company has Control ; or

(d)    cessation of employment or office for any other reason, apart from summary dismissal with just cause.

 

“Group”

the Company and its Subsidiaries and “Group Member” shall be construed accordingly;

 

“HMRC”

HM Revenue and Customs;

 

“ICTA”

the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988;

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“ITEPA”

the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003;

 

“Joint Election”

means a joint election pursuant to Sections 425, 430 or 431 ITEPA;

 

“Letter of Invitation”

a letter substantially in the form set out in schedule 1 to these Rules provided by the Company to an employee inviting him to accept the grant of an Option;

 

“Market Value”

has the same meaning as it has for the purposes of Part VIII TCGA and which shall be deemed to be:

(a)    the middle market quotation of a Share as decided from the Official List for the dealing day immediately preceding the Date of Grant; or

(b)    (if the Shares are not for the time being so quoted) the price determined by the Board, as being the market value of a Share on the day prior to the day on which the Option in question is granted

 

and, for an EMI Option agreed by Shares Valuation at HMRC;

 

“Material Interest”

means an interest in the Company as set out in paragraph 29 of Schedule 5;

 

“NIC”

national insurance contributions;

 

“Notice of Exercise”

a notice of exercise substantially in the form set out in the Appendix to the Option Agreement;

 

“Notice of Grant”

in the case of Options which are to be EMI Options, a notification to HMRC to be jointly signed by

(a)    the employer company of the Option Holder and

(b)    the Option Holder in such form required by HMRC from time to time;

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“Official List”

the official listing as referred to in Part VI FSMA;

 

“Option”

an option to acquire Shares granted under these Rules, whether an EMI Option or an Unapproved Option;

 

“Option Agreement”

a written agreement between the Company and the Option Holder in the form of a deed substantially in the form set out in schedule 2 to these Rules and if it is an EMI Option containing the information required by Schedule 5;

 

“Option Holder”

a person who holds an Option or (where the context admits) his personal representatives;

 

“Option Price”

the price at which each Share may be acquired on the exercise of an Option determined by the Board at the Date of Grant [being not substantially less than the Market Value and, subject to Rule 10, not less than the nominal value of the Share where the Shares are to be acquired by direct issue from the Company;

 

“Qualifying Option”

an option which at the time of grant meets the requirements of Schedule 5 and in respect of which a Notice of Grant is executed;

 

“Qualifying Subsidiary”

has the meaning given in paragraph 11 of Schedule 5;

 

“Redundancy”

termination of employment by reason of redundancy in accordance with Section 139 Employment Rights Act 1996;

 

“Relevant CSOP Option”

an option to acquire shares under a scheme approved pursuant to the provisions of Schedule 4 ITEPA;

 

“Rules”

these rules of the Scheme as from time to time altered pursuant to the provisions of Rule 11;

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“Sale”

the making of one or more agreements (whether conditional or not) for an acquisition of the Capital of the Company giving rise to a change of Control of the Company;

 

“Schedule 5”

Schedule 5 ITEPA;

 

“Scheme”

means the NuCana Biomed Limited Share Option Scheme;

 

“Secondary NIC Liability”

any employer’s secondary NIC charge arising on the exercise or release of an Option;

 

“Share”

a fully paid ordinary share of the Company;

 

“Subsidiaries”

a subsidiary as defined under section 736 Companies Act 1985;

 

“Tax Liabilities”

any income tax and NIC charge arising as a consequence of the exercise or release of the Option or in respect of the Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of such options and including arising under a Joint Election or receipt of money or money’s worth in connection with such Options or the acquired Shares, for which the Company or a Group Member has accounted or is required to account for to HMRC and including, unless otherwise stated, where permitted by law the employer’s national insurance contributions (or their equivalent);

 

“TCGA”

the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992;

 

“UK Listing Authority”

the Financial Services Authority acting in its capacity as the competent authority for the purposes of Part VI Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;

 

“Unapproved Option”

an option to acquire Shares granted under this Scheme and subject to these Rules which:

(a)    is designated an Unapproved Option; and/or

(b)    does not fall within the provisions of Schedules 3, 4 or 5 ITEPA and does not satisfy the EMI Code but in respect of which these Rules apply.

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1.2	Words denoting the singular shall include the plural and vice versa and words denoting the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender.

 

1.3	Rule headings are inserted for convenience only and are to be ignored in construing these Rules.

 

1.4	References in these Rules to any statute shall be deemed to include every modification, amendment and/or re-enactment by statute or sub-ordinate legislation for the time being in force.

 

1.5	References in these Rules to “month” shall be deemed to be references to a calendar month.

 

2.	PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE GRANT OF OPTIONS

 

2.1	In its absolute discretion, the Board has the power to grant Options (whether EMI Options or Unapproved Options) under the Scheme to Eligible Employees:

 

(a)

subject to the limitations and conditions contained in these Rules;

 

(b)

provided they are not prohibited by law; and

 

(c)

for commercial reasons in order to recruit or retain an Eligible Employee in the Group.

 

2.2	The procedure for granting Options shall be as follows:

 

(a)

the Board shall by resolution:

 

(i)

select a number of Eligible Employees to whom Options shall be granted and the intended Date of Grant;

 

(ii)

determine the maximum number of Shares which each such Eligible Employee shall be entitled to acquire on the exercise of the Options;

 

(iii)

determine the Option Price, the periods during which Options may be exercised, and any Exercise Conditions to apply to the option to be granted;

 

(iv)

specify which Options shall be EMI Options or Unapproved Options;

 

(v)

determine if the Option Holder is to indemnify against secondary NIC Liability under Rule 2.6;

 

(b)

the Board shall send to each selected Eligible Employee the following documents to invite him or her to enter into an Option Agreement:

 

(i)

a Letter of Invitation;

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(ii)

a copy Letter of Invitation (to sign and return);

 

(iii)

an Option Agreement;

 

(iv)

a Notice of Grant;

 

(v)

a copy of the Rules;

 

(vi)

any Explanatory Notes (if prepared); and

 

(vii)

the Articles of Association of the Company;

 

(c)

the Option Agreement must be duly executed by the Company and the Eligible Employee within 14 days of the date of the Letter of Invitation (or such other date determined by the Board) and the date when the Option Agreement is duly executed shall be the date of the Date of Grant.

 

2.3	The Option Agreement shall serve as evidence of the grant of the Option and accordingly no further certificate shall be issued to the Option Holder.

 

2.4	The Option shall state if the Option is being granted as an EMI Option, or to what extent it is being granted as an EMI Option; otherwise it shall be granted as an Unapproved Option.

 

2.5

If an Option Agreement is not duly executed as required under Rule 2.2 within the time limit specified the terms of the Letter of Invitation shall immediately lapse at the end of the period referred to therein and the Option shall not be granted nor be deemed to have been granted to the Eligible Employee.

 

2.6	It shall be a condition of the grant of an Option that the Option Holder:

 

(a)

indemnifies the Company and any other Group Member to the extent permitted by law against any Tax Liabilities and where the Board so requires Secondary NIC Liability (together referred to as “Liabilities”); and

 

(b)

enters into a Joint Election should the Board so require at any time prior to and as a condition of the exercise of the Option.

 

3.	LIMITS AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS OF THE SCHEME RULES

 

3.1	An EMI Option granted to an Eligible Employee under these Rules shall be limited and take effect so that the aggregate Market Value at the Date of Grant of Shares which may be acquired on the exercise of that EMI Option when added to:

 

(a)

the aggregate Market Value at the Date of Grant of Shares which may be acquired on the exercise of Qualifying Options granted to him pursuant to the Scheme and Any Other EMI Scheme; and

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(b)

the aggregate Market Value at Date of Grant of Shares which may be acquired on the exercise of any Relevant CSOP Option held by such Eligible Employee at the Date of Grant

shall not exceed £120,000 or such other sum as determined under paragraph 5 Schedule 5.

 

3.2	To the extent that the aggregate Market Value of Shares under any EMI Option exceeds such sum as referred to in Rule 3.1, any Option granted over Shares representing the excess shall be granted under an Unapproved Option.

 

3.3	Pursuant to Rule 3.1 the Market Value of Shares shall be calculated at the time the options in relation to those Shares is granted or such other time as agreed in writing by HMRC.

 

3.4

If an Eligible Employee has previously been granted Qualifying Options under the Scheme or Any Other EMI Scheme over Shares with an aggregate Market Value of £120,000 as referred to in Rule 3.1 above (including EMI Options which have since been exercised or released) then any Option which shall be granted to such Eligible Employee within three years of the Date of Grant of the last such Qualifying Option shall be an Unapproved Option.

 

3.5	No Option shall be granted at a date more than ten years after the Adoption Date without further authorisation by the Company in general meeting.

 

3.6

Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Rules the Company may not issue Qualifying Options under the Scheme or any Other EMI Scheme such that the Market Value at the date of grant of Shares subject to such Qualifying Options exceeds £3 million or such other sum as determined under paragraph 7 Schedule 5.

 

4.	NON-ASSIGNABILITY OF OPTIONS

Except as otherwise specifically provided in these Rules, each Option shall be exercisable only by the Option Holder to whom it is granted and may not be transferred, assigned or charged, and on any purported transfer, assignment or charge the Option shall automatically lapse.

 

5.	EXERCISE CONDITIONS

 

5.1	Exercise Conditions (if any) shall be:

 

(a)

in respect of dates or events or profits or individual or collective performance criteria for a period which begins no earlier than the start of the accounting period in which the Date of Grant falls; and

 

(b)

capable of independent objective assessment with a view to determining whether they have been satisfied; and

 

(c)

set out in detail at the Date of Grant in the Option Agreement.

 

5.2	Different Exercise Conditions may be specified in respect of different numbers of the Shares comprised in the same Option.

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5.3

Subject to the provisions of these Rules where an Option has been granted subject to Exercise Conditions, the Board shall as soon as reasonably practicable following the satisfaction of any Exercise Conditions give written notice to inform the Option Holder concerned that his Option has become exercisable subject always to the provisions of Rule 6.

 

5.4	Where events happen which cause the Board to consider that the Exercise Conditions are no longer appropriate, or the Board at its entire discretion so decides, it may:

 

(a)

vary the Exercise Conditions provided that the new Exercise Conditions are not more difficult to satisfy than the original Performance Conditions; or

 

(b)

remove the Exercise Conditions as a requirement of the exercise of the Option;

PROVIDED that the Option Holder is given notice in writing of the variation or removal as soon as practicable.

 

6.	EXERCISE OF OPTION

 

6.1	An Option shall be exercised: –

 

(a)

pursuant to the terms of exercise set out in the Option Agreement; and

 

(b)

by lodging with the Company Secretary or such other person as the Board may specify, the relevant Option Agreement, a duly completed Notice of Exercise and (subject to Rule 8.6) the payment required in respect of the Option Price and any Tax Liabilities and secondary NIC liability.

 

6.2	Lapse of Options

An Option shall cease to be exercisable and shall lapse forthwith on the occurrence of the following events: –

 

(a)

5pm on the day before the tenth anniversary of the grant of the Option;

 

(b)

save in the case of (i) the death of the Option Holder; or (ii) as a result of the Option Holder being a Good Leaver, where the Option Holder has ceased to be an employee of the Company or of a Qualifying Subsidiary and the relevant period stated in Rule 7.2 has expired without the Board giving direction otherwise;

 

(c)

the Option Holder does or suffers any act or thing (including bankruptcy) whereby he would or might be deprived of the legal or beneficial ownership of the Option;

 

(d)

the lapsing events referred to in Rules 4, 7, 8 and 9.

 

6.3	Result of Exercise of Options

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(a)

Subject to:

 

(i)

the obtaining of any necessary consent from H.M. Treasury, the Bank of England, the UK Listing Authority, the London Stock Exchange Plc or other relevant authority;

 

(ii)

the terms of any such consent;

 

(iii)

receipt by the Company of the appropriate payment for Shares to be acquired on exercise in full

the Company shall (subject to Rule 8.7) within 30 days of receipt by the Company Secretary of a valid Notice of Exercise issue to or arrange the transfer to the Option Holder the number of Shares in respect of which the Option has been exercised (but if during a Close Period such issue or transfer shall be effected as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of the Close Period).

 

(b)

The Board shall at all times keep available sufficient unissued Shares or shall procure that there are available sufficient Shares to satisfy the exercise of all Options granted under the Scheme. For this purpose the Board may enter into an agreement with any individual, company or the trustees of any employee benefit trust for the provision by such persons of Shares to satisfy Options. In such case, and if appropriate, the Option Price payable by the Option Holder shall be received by a member of the Board as trustee for such persons (to whom it shall account) and the Board shall procure the transfer of Shares by such persons upon exercise of the Option.

 

(c)

All Shares issued on exercise of Options shall on issue rank equally in all respects with the Company’s existing Shares of the same class, save that the Shares issued under the Scheme will not rank for any dividends or other distributions declared or recommended the record date for which falls on or prior to the date when the Option is exercised.

 

6.4	Tax Liability

 

(a)

It being a condition of the grant of an Option that each Option Holder indemnifies the Company and any other Group Member against Tax Liabilities and/or secondary NIC Liabilities (“Liabilities”) pursuant to Rule 2.6(a), to the extent that the Liabilities cannot be (or are not) deducted from payments made by the Company or Group Member to the Option Holder, the Company shall be authorised by the Option Holder: –

 

(i)

to retain and sell on the Option Holder’s behalf sufficient Shares issued or acquired on exercise of the Option to raise the necessary funds to meet and to apply such funds in discharging the Liabilities or reimbursing the Company or the relevant Group Member; and/or

 

(ii)

to make such other arrangements with the Option Holder in question as the Board deems appropriate for the reimbursement to the Company or relevant Group Member of the Liabilities.

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7.	LEAVER OR DEATH OF OPTION HOLDER

Subject to Rule 6.2 and subject to Rule 5:

 

7.1	If an Option Holder dies before exercising an Option or part thereof, the Option may (and must, if at all) be exercised by his personal representatives to the extent that any Exercise Conditions have been met within the period ending on the earlier of:

 

(a)

the expiry of 12 months after the date of death; and

 

(b)

the time referred to in Rule 6.2(a),

and failing such exercise the Option shall lapse.

 

7.2

Save (i) in the case of the Option Holders death (in which case Rule 7.1 applies); or (ii) where the Option Holder is a Good Leaver, if an Option Holder ceases to be an Eligible Employee of the Company or of a Qualifying Subsidiary then any Option not exercised by the time of such cessation shall immediately cease to be exercisable and shall lapse 90 days after such cessation unless within 90 days after cessation the Board in its absolute discretion shall permit the Option to be exercised in whole or in part within a specified period in which event the Option may be exercised by the Option Holder to the extent so permitted by the Board so long as it is prior to the time referred to in Rule 6.1(a), and failing such exercise the Option shall lapse.

 

7.3

An Option Holder shall not be treated for the purposes of these Rules as ceasing employment until such time as he is no longer a director or employee of the Company or of any Qualifying Subsidiary and an Option Holder (being a woman) who is absent from work by reason of pregnancy or confinement and who exercises her right to return to work under the Employment Rights Act 1996 before exercising an Option under the Scheme shall be treated for the purposes of these Rules as not having ceased to be such an employee.

 

7.4

For the purposes of these Rules, where an Option Holder’s contract of employment with the Group is terminated by a Group Member without notice the Option Holder’s employment shall be deemed to cease on the date on which the termination takes effect and where the said contract is terminated by notice given or received by a Group Member, the Option Holder’s employment shall be deemed to cease on the date on which that notice is served.

 

7.5

Where an Option Holder ceases to be an Eligible Employee of the Company or of a Qualifying Subsidiary but notwithstanding that, the Option Holder remains entitled under these Rules to exercise the Options, then whilst the Option granted to the Option Holder may, as a result of the Option Holder ceasing to be an Eligible Employee, cease to qualify for tax advantages pursuant to the EMI Code for the period following such cessation, the Option itself will not lapse as a result of the Option Holder ceasing to be an Eligible Employee (save as otherwise provided for in these Rules).

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8.	CHANGE OF CONTROL, AND SALE OF THE COMPANY

 

8.1	Change of Control – If:

 

(a)

any person or group of persons acting in concert obtains Control of the Company as a result of making:

 

(i)

an offer to acquire more than 50% of the Capital of the Company which is made on a condition such that if it is satisfied the person or group of persons will have Control of the Company; or

 

(ii)

a general offer to acquire all the Capital (or all the shares which are of the same class of those to which the Option relates); or

 

(b)

any person becomes entitled or bound to acquire shares in the capital of the Company under Sections 428 to 430F of the Companies Act 1985; or

 

(c)

under Section 425 of the Companies Act 1985 the court sanctions a compromise or arrangement proposed for the purposes of or in connection with a scheme for the reconstruction of the Company or its amalgamation with any other company or companies;

and if the Option Agreement allows for exercise of the Option on a Change of Control, an Option Holder (or his personal representative) may at any time during the three days prior to or within the Appropriate Period, exercise any Option or part thereof which has not lapsed. Any Option which is not so exercised shall lapse at the expiry of the Appropriate Period.

 

8.2	Replacement Options:

 

(a)

If a company (in this Rule called the “Acquiring Company”) has acquired Control of the Company as a result of any of the events described in Rule 8.1(a) or 8.1(c), or becomes entitled or bound as mentioned in Rule 8.1(b) or obtains all the shares of the Company whose shares are subject to any outstanding Qualifying Options as a result of a qualifying exchange of shares (as defined in paragraph 40(1) Schedule 5) (such acquiring of Control or becoming entitled or bound or obtains, being referred to below as a “Specific Event”), any Option Holder may by agreement with the Acquiring Company at any time within the Appropriate Period as defined in Rule 8.3 below release his rights in respect of any EMI Option held by him (in this Rule referred to as the “Old Option”) in consideration of the grant to him of rights (in this Rule referred to as the “Replacement Option”) which are equivalent and relate to shares in the Acquiring Company, and which comply with Rule 8.2(b).

 

(b)

A Replacement Option is one in relation to which the requirements of paragraph 43 of Schedule 5 are satisfied at the time of release of the Old Option including grant by reason of the Option Holder’s employment with the Acquiring Company.

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8.3	“Appropriate Period” means:

 

(a)

in a case falling within Rule 8.1(a) and where Rule 8.1(b) does not apply, the period of six months beginning with the time when the person making the offer has obtained Control of the Company and any condition subject to which the offer is made is satisfied;

 

(b)

in a case falling within Rule 8.1(b) the period during which the person remains bound or entitled as mentioned in that paragraph; and

 

(c)

in a case falling within Rule 8.1(c) the period of six months beginning with the time when the court sanctions the compromise or arrangement.

 

8.4

If a Replacement Option shall be granted to an Option Holder by reference to any Specific Event, Rules 8.1(a), 8.1(b) and 8.1(c) above shall cease to apply by reference to that Specific Event (but without prejudice to their application by reference to any other Specific Event). Any EMI Option which is not exercised or released pursuant to this Rule within the Appropriate Period following a Specific Event (but not any Replacement Option granted by reference to that Specific Event) shall lapse.

 

8.5

Sale: If the Option Agreement allows for exercise of the Option on a Sale, in the event that the Board becomes aware that there may be a Sale of the Company they shall give notice (a “Sale Notice”) in writing to the Option Holder specifying that a Sale may be forthcoming and that the Option will lapse immediately following the sale if not exercised prior to completion of the Sale unless a Replacement Option is offered to the Option Holder in accordance with Clause 8.2 (or unless some other form of replacement option is offered by the prospective purchaser).

 

8.6

At any time after receipt of a Sale Notice under Clause 8.5 and prior to completion of the Sale, the Option Holder may exercise the Option in accordance with Clause 6 but only on the basis that the Option Holder agrees to sell to the purchaser on completion of the Sale all the Shares acquired as a result of the exercise of the Option. Any such Exercise Notice from the Option Holder shall be accompanied by a cheque for the aggregate Option Price but shall specify the number of Shares over which the Option Holder wishes to exercise his Option, and any such notice may not be withdrawn without the consent of the Board.

 

8.7	Completion of the subscription for, or transfer of, the Shares shall take place prior to completion of the Sale and the Company shall issue and allot the relevant Shares in favour of the Option Holder and shall register such issue and allotment or transfer prior to completion of the Sale.

 

8.8

In the event that the Sale proceeds are received directly by the Option Holder, the Option Holder undertakes to reimburse the Company (or any other Group Company) for a sum equal to the aggregate Option Price, along with any Tax liabilities and/or secondary NIC Liability that may be due in relation to the exercise of the Option, whether by deduction under clause 6.4 or otherwise.

 

8.9	Clauses 8.5 to 8.8 above dealing with a Sale shall take priority over Clause 8.1 dealing with other forms of Change of Control and for the avoidance of doubt in the event of a Sale, Clause 8.1 will not apply but clauses 8.2 to 8.4 may apply.

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9.	WINDING-UP OF THE COMPANY

 

9.1

If at any time while any Option remains unexercised notice is duly given of a general meeting of the Company at which a resolution will be proposed for the voluntary liquidation of the Company, every Option which has not lapsed prior to such resolution shall be exercisable in whole or in part until the commencement of such winding-up within the meaning of Section 86 of the Insolvency Act 1986.

 

9.2

Pursuant to the above Rule 9.1 the Company shall give to each Option Holder holding any unexercised Option notice of any meeting called for the purpose of considering a resolution for the voluntary liquidation of the Company and shall at the same time give him notice of his rights under this Rule 9 and subject to the foregoing, all Options shall lapse on the commencement of any liquidation of the Company.

 

10.	VARIATION OF CAPITAL

 

10.1	Subject to Rules 10.3 and 10.4 below, in the event of any increase or variation of the Capital (whenever effected) by way of capitalisation or rights issue, or sub-division, consolidation or reduction, the Board may make such adjustments as they consider appropriate under Rule 10.2 below.

 

10.2	An adjustment made under this Rule 10 shall be to one or more of the following:

 

(a)

the number of Shares in respect of which any Option granted under the Scheme may be exercised;

 

(b)

the price at which shares may be acquired by the exercise of any such Option;

 

(c)

where any such Option has been exercised but no Shares have been transferred pursuant to such exercise, the number of Shares which may be so transferred and the price at which they may be acquired.

 

10.3	Except in the case of a capitalisation issue, no adjustment under Rule 10.2 above shall be made without the prior confirmation in writing by the Auditors or other share valuers to the Board that it is in their opinion fair and reasonable.

 

10.4	No adjustment under Rule 10.2 above shall be made

 

(a)

which would affect EMI Options which are Qualifying Options without the prior approval of HM Revenue and Customs if so required;

 

(b)

as a result of which the aggregate amount payable on the exercise of an Option in full would be increased or reduced.

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10.5

An adjustment under Rule 10.2 above may have the effect of reducing the price at which Shares may be acquired by the exercise of the Option to less than their nominal value, but only if and to the extent that the Board shall be authorised to capitalise from the reserves of the Company a sum equal to the amount by which the nominal value of the Shares in respect of which the Option is exercised and which are to be allotted pursuant to such exercise exceeds the price at which the same may be subscribed for, and to apply such sum in paying up such amount on such Shares, and so that on exercise of any Option in respect of which such a reduction shall have been made, the Board shall capitalise such sum (if any) and apply the same in paying up such amount as aforesaid.

 

10.6	As soon as reasonably practicable after making any adjustment under Rule 10.2 above, the Board shall give notice in writing thereof to each Option Holder.

 

11.	ALTERATIONS TO THE RULES

 

11.1	The Board may by resolution at any time make any alteration to the Rules which it thinks fit subject to the provisions of this Rule 11.

 

11.2	No such alteration which would affect an EMI Option which is a Qualifying Option shall take effect if the result would be:

 

(a)

to increase the aggregate Market Value of the Shares that are the subject of such Qualifying Option; or

 

(b)

that the requirements of Schedule 5 would cease to be met in relation to such EMI Option.

 

11.3	No alteration shall be made which would materially increase the liability of any Option Holder or which would materially decrease the value of his subsisting rights attached to any Option without in each case that Option Holder’s prior written consent.

 

11.4

No alteration shall take effect without the prior approval of the Company in general meeting (except for minor amendments to benefit administration of the Scheme, to comply with or to take account of any applicable legislation or statutory regulations or any change therein or any requirements of HM Revenue and Customs for the approval of the Scheme under any such legislation or regulations or to obtain or maintain favourable taxation treatment for the Company or the Option Holders or potential Option Holders).

 

11.5	As soon as reasonably practicable after making any alteration under Rule 11.1 above the Board shall give notice in writing thereof to each Option Holder.

 

12.	MISCELLANEOUS

 

12.1	Any Option granted pursuant to the Rules shall not form part of the contract of employment of any person who participates in the Scheme. The rights and obligations of any individual under the terms of his office or employment with any Group Member shall not be affected by his

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participation in the Scheme or any right which he may have to participate therein, and an individual who participates therein shall waive any and all rights to compensation or damages in consequence of the termination of his office or employment for any reason whatsoever (including unfair or wrongful dismissal) insofar as those rights arise or may arise from his ceasing to have rights under or be entitled to exercise any Option under the Scheme as a result of such termination. No such participation, rights or benefits shall be taken into account for the purposes of calculating the amount payable to any pension fund. Options granted pursuant to the Scheme shall not constitute any representation or warranty that any benefit will accrue to any individual who is granted an Option.

 

12.2

The Scheme shall in all respects be administered by the Board who may from time to time make and vary such rules and regulations for its conduct not inconsistent with these Rules and may from time to time establish such procedures for administration and implementation of the Scheme and Rules as it thinks fit, and in the event of any dispute or disagreement as to the interpretation of the Rules, or of any rule, regulation or procedure, or as to any question or right arising from or related to the Scheme, the decision of the Board shall be final and binding upon all persons (subject to the written concurrence of the Auditors having been obtained when so required by the Rules).

 

12.3	Any Group Member may provide money to the trustees of any trust or any other person to enable them or him to acquire shares to be held for the purposes of the Scheme, or enter into any guarantee or indemnity for these purposes, to the extent permitted by section 153 of the Companies Act 1985.

 

12.4	In any matter in which they are required to act under the Rules, the Auditors shall be deemed to be acting as experts and not as arbitrators and the Arbitration Acts 1950 to 1996 shall not apply to these Rules.

 

12.5

Any notice or other communication under or in connection with the Rules may be given by personal delivery or by sending the same by post, in the case of a company to its registered office and in the case of an individual to his last known address, or, where he is a director or employee of a Company participating in the Scheme, either to his last known address or to the address of the place of business at which he performs the whole or substantially the whole of the duties of his office or employment, and where a notice or other communication is given by first-class post, it shall be deemed to have been received 48 hours after it was put into the post properly addressed and stamped.

 

12.6	The costs of introducing and administering the Scheme shall be borne by the Company or any Group Member.

 

12.7	The Board shall maintain all necessary books of account and records relating to the Scheme.

 

12.8	Subject to the Articles of Association of the Company, an Option Holder who is a director of the Company may, notwithstanding his interest, vote on any resolution concerning the Scheme (other than in respect of his own participation therein) and may retain any benefits under the Scheme.

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13.	GOVERNING LAW

The Rules and the Scheme shall in all respects be governed by the laws of England.

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Form of Option Agreement

This Agreement which is in the form of a deed is made the day of                 200●

BETWEEN

 

(1)	NuCana Biomed Limited (03308778 ) whose registered office is at Butler & Co Accountants, 5 Southwell Park Road, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 3PU (“Company”); and

 

(2)	[option holders name] of [option holders address] who will become “the Option Holder”

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RECITALS

 

A.	This Unapproved Option is granted subject to the rules of the                2012 NuCana Biomed Limited Share Option Scheme (“Scheme”).

 

B.	A copy of the rules which is appended to this Agreement provides for the grant of options for commercial reasons in order to recruit and retain key employees and/or directors (“Rules”).

NOW THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSES

 

1.	In this Agreement the definitions in the Rules shall apply.

 

2.	The Company hereby grants to the Option Holder the Unapproved Option to acquire a maximum of [                ] Shares, at an Option Price of * per Share.

 

3

Exercise

 

3.1

The options shall be exercisable as follows:

 

•

X options may be exercised at any time after 12 months from the date of grant

 

•

a further X options may be exercised at any time after 24 months from the date of grant

 

•

the final X options may be exercised at any time after 36 months from the date of grant

 

3.2

All unexercised options will also be able to be exercised on the occasion of Admission, a change of control, or sale of the company.

 

4.	The Unapproved Option may not be exercised:

 

4.1

after the time in Rule 6.2(a);

 

4.2

from the date the Option Holder ceases to be an employee or director of the Company or of any Qualifying Subsidiary in accordance with Rule 6.2 (b) (except to the extent provided in Rule 6.2 (b) and Rule 7);

 

4.3

following a Change of Control or a Sale of the Company except to the extent provided in Rule 8;

 

4.4

following the commencement of the winding up of the Company as set out in Rule 9.

 

5.	The Unapproved Option will lapse on the occurrence of any of the events as set out in Rule 6.2.

 

6.	To exercise the Unapproved Option the Option Holder must lodge with the Company Secretary of the Company (or such other person as the Company may from time to time notify to the Option Holder in writing):

 

6.1

this Option Agreement;

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6.2

a duly completed Notice of Exercise in the form appended to this Option Agreement;

 

6.3

where required by the Company, a duly completed Joint Election; and

 

6.4

a cheque made payable to the Company in respect of the Option Price.

 

7.	The Option Holder hereby:

 

7.1

covenants with the Company to allow the Company to recover from the Option Holder Tax Liabilities arising in connection with or as a result of the exercise of the Unapproved Option and to indemnify and keep indemnified on a continuing basis the Company and any Group Member in respect of such Tax Liabilities and for the purposes of such indemnity:

 

7.2

hereby authorises the Company to deduct sufficient funds which, in the reasonable opinion of the Board, would be equal to any Tax Liabilities from any payment made to or in respect of the Option Holder by it or any Group Member during the same calendar month or other relevant period in which such Tax Liabilities arise. If there is no such payment made or the Tax Liabilities exceed the amount of such payment the Option Holder hereby agrees to pay the full amount of the Tax Liabilities or any such excess (as the case may be) in cleared funds within seven days of a valid demand by the Company or any Group Member; and

 

7.3

appoints a member of the Board as his [trustee] for the purposes of providing the Company or any Group Member (as appropriate) with sufficient funds to recover any Tax Liabilities by receiving on trust or retaining on trust (as the case may be) (out of the total number of Shares to which the Option Holder is entitled following the relevant exercise of the Unapproved Option) the legal title to and selling such number of Shares as, in the reasonable opinion of the Board, is required to realise a cash amount equivalent to the Tax Liabilities and the Option Holder hereby covenants to pay to the Company, should such sale realise a cash amount less than the Tax Liabilities, an amount equal to the difference within seven working days of demand by the Company.

 

8.	The Unapproved Option is exercisable only by the Option Holder (or his personal representatives) and may not be transferred, assigned or charged and the Unapproved Option will lapse on the occasion of any assignment, charge, disposal or other dealing with the rights conveyed by it.

 

9.	The Company has agreed or will agree the Market Value of a Share for the purposes of this Scheme as at the Date of Grant with HM Revenue and Customs.

 

10.	A person who is not a party to this deed shall have no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of this deed. This clause does not affect any right or remedy of any person which exists or is available otherwise than pursuant to that Act.

 

11.	The Shares which will be acquired when the Option is exercised are subject to the terms and restrictions set out in the Company’s articles of association, and a copy of the current articles of association is attached.

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APPENDIX

Form of Notice of Exercise

Please read the notes at the foot of his form carefully before completing it

 

To:	The Secretary NuCana Biomed Limited

I, the undersigned¹, having become entitled so to do, hereby exercise the Unapproved Option referred to in the attached Agreement in respect of Shares comprised in the Unapproved Option upon the terms of the 2012 NuCana Biomed Limited Share Option Scheme (“Scheme”) and agree to accept the Shares to be allotted and issued pursuant to this Notice of Exercise subject to and in accordance with the memorandum and articles of association of the Company and hereby request you to place my name on the register of members in respect thereof.

I enclose a remittance for £² being the aggregate Option Price payable for the Shares in respect of which the Unapproved Option is now exercised, the Option Price (per Share) being [                ].

I understand that income tax and NIC (referred to as a Tax Liabilities in the Rules of the Scheme) may need to be accounted for by the Company to HM Revenue and Customs on this exercise and in respect of which I have indemnified the Company. I further understand that the Company has an obligation to deduct, insofar as possible, the amount of any Tax Liabilities from payments that it makes to me and I authorise the Company to make such deductions from my salary.

(please tick as appropriate³)

 

☐	I wish to make a cash payment to the Company in respect of the outstanding Tax Liabilities (after deduction by the Company) arising from this exercise and enclose a second cheque made payable to the Company for £●.

 

☐	I authorise the Company to retain and to sell on my behalf sufficient Shares so as to realise an amount sufficient to discharge the Tax Liabilities arising from this exercise.

If applicable, I hereby request you to despatch a balance certificate for the Unapproved Option to subscribe for any Shares included in the Unapproved Option referred to overleaf and not exercised on this occasion, by post at my risk to the address mentioned below.

 

Signature:						Date:
Surname:
Forename(s):
Address:

[If the shares are restricted under ITEPA the Option Holder should be required to enter into a Joint Election with the Company to which this Exercise Notice should refer.]

 

1

Although the Option referred to overleaf is personal to the holder named overleaf it may be exercised by his personal representative(s) if he dies while the Option is still capable of exercise provided the personal representative(s) does/do so before the expiration of 12 months from the date of the Option Holder’s death or 10 years from the date of its grant (if sooner). If there are more than one, each of the personal representatives must sign this form. A copy of the Grant of Probate must be provided with the completed Notice of Exercise.

2	The remittance should be for an amount equal to the Option Price per Share shown overleaf, multiplied by the number of Shares applied for.

3

Please tick the appropriate box. If you fail to tick a box or if you tick the first box but your cash payment or next month’s salary are insufficient to cover the full liability, the Company will retain and sell sufficient shares to cover the liability or shortfall or will withhold the transferring of the shares to you until the full tax liabilities have been met by you.

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In Witness whereof the parties have signed this Agreement on the date specified above:

 

EXECUTED as a DEED

)

but not delivered until the date hereof

)

for and on behalf of THE COMPANY

)

Director

Director/Secretary

 

SIGNED as a DEED

)

but not delivered until the date hereof

)

by ●

)

in the presence of:

)

 

Name of Witness
Address

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Form of Option Agreement

This Agreement which is in the form of a deed is made the day of                  200●

BETWEEN

 

(1)	NuCana Biomed Limited (03308778 ) whose registered office is at Butler & Co Accountants, 5 Southwell Park Road, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 3PU (“Company”); and

 

(2)	[employee name] of [employee address] who will become “the Option Holder”

RECITALS

 

A.	This EMI Option is granted subject to the rules of the                  2012 NuCana Biomed Limited Share Option Scheme, and is granted pursuant to Schedule 5 ITEPA 2003 (“Scheme”).

 

B.	A copy of the rules which is appended to this Agreement provides for the grant of options for commercial reasons in order to recruit and retain key employees (“Rules”).

NOW THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSES

 

1.	In this Agreement the definitions in the Rules shall apply.

 

2.	The Company hereby grants to the Option Holder the EMI Option to acquire a maximum of [                ] Shares, at an Option Price of * per Share.

 

3

Exercise

 

3.3

The options shall be exercisable as follows:

 

•

X options may be exercised at any time after 12 months from the date of grant

 

•

a further X options may be exercised at any time after 24 months from the date of grant

 

•

the final X options may be exercised at any time after 36 months from the date of grant

 

3.4

All unexercised options will also be able to be exercised on the occasion of Admission, a change of control, or sale of the company.

 

4.	The EMI Option may not be exercised:

 

4.1

after the time in Rule 6.2(a);

 

4.2

from the date the Option Holder ceases to be an employee of the Company or of any Qualifying Subsidiary in accordance with Rule 6.2 (b) (except to the extent provided in Rule 6.2 (b) and Rule 7);

 

4.3

following a Change of Control or a Sale of the Company except to the extent provided in Rule 8;

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4.4

following the commencement of the winding up of the Company as set out in Rule 9.

 

5.	The EMI Option will lapse on the occurrence of any of the events as set out in Rule 6.2.

 

6.	To exercise the EMI Option the Option Holder must lodge with the Company Secretary of the Company (or such other person as the Company may from time to time notify to the employee in writing):

 

6.1

this Option Agreement;

 

6.2

a duly completed Notice of Exercise in the form appended to this Option Agreement;

 

6.3

where required by the Company, a duly completed Joint Election; and

 

6.4

a cheque made payable to the Company in respect of the Option Price.

 

7.	The employee hereby:

 

7.1

covenants with the Company to allow the Company to recover from the Option Holder Tax Liabilities arising in connection with or as a result of the exercise of the EMI Option and to indemnify and keep indemnified on a continuing basis the Company and any Group Member in respect of such Tax Liabilities and for the purposes of such indemnity:

 

7.2

hereby authorises the Company to deduct sufficient funds which, in the reasonable opinion of the Board, would be equal to any Tax Liabilities from any payment made to or in respect of the Option Holder by it or any Group Member during the same calendar month or other relevant period in which such Tax Liabilities arise. If there is no such payment made or the Tax Liabilities exceed the amount of such payment the Option Holder hereby agrees to pay the full amount of the Tax Liabilities or any such excess (as the case may be) in cleared funds within seven days of a valid demand by the Company or any Group Member; and

 

7.3

appoints a member of the Board as his trustee for the purposes of providing the Company or any Group Member (as appropriate) with sufficient funds to recover any Tax Liabilities by receiving on trust or retaining on trust (as the case may be) (out of the total number of Shares to which the Option Holder is entitled following the relevant exercise of the EMI Option) the legal title to and selling such number of Shares as, in the reasonable opinion of the Board, is required to realise a cash amount equivalent to the Tax Liabilities and the Option Holder hereby covenants to pay to the Company, should such sale realise a cash amount less than the Tax Liabilities, an amount equal to the difference within seven working days of demand by the Company.

 

8.	The EMI Option is exercisable only by the Option Holder (or his personal representatives) and may not be transferred, assigned or charged and the EMI Option will lapse on the occasion of any assignment, charge, disposal or other dealing with the rights conveyed by it.

 

9.	The Company has agreed or will agree the Market Value of a Share for the purposes of this Scheme as at the Date of Grant with HM Revenue and Customs.

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10.	A person who is not a party to this deed shall have no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of this deed. This clause does not affect any right or remedy of any person which exists or is available otherwise than pursuant to that Act.

 

11.	The Shares which will be acquired when the Option is exercised are subject to the terms and restrictions set out in the Company’s articles of association, and a copy of the current articles of association is attached.

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APPENDIX

Form of Notice of Exercise

Please read the notes at the foot of his form carefully before completing it

 

To:	The Secretary

NuCana Biomed Limited

I, the undersigned⁴, having become entitled so to do, hereby exercise the EMI Option referred to in the attached Agreement in respect of Shares comprised in the EMI Option upon the terms of the NuCana Biomed Limited Share Option Scheme (“Scheme”) and agree to accept the Shares to be allotted and issued pursuant to this Notice of Exercise subject to and in accordance with the memorandum and articles of association of the Company and hereby request you to place my name on the register of members in respect thereof.

I enclose a remittance for £⁵ being the aggregate Option Price payable for the Shares in respect of which the EMI Option is now exercised, the Option Price (per Share) being [                ].

I understand that income tax and NIC (referred to as a Tax Liabilities in the Rules of the Scheme) may need to be accounted for by the Company to HM Revenue and Customs on this exercise and in respect of which I have indemnified the Company. I further understand that the Company has an obligation to deduct, insofar as possible, the amount of any Tax Liabilities from payments that it makes to me and I authorise the Company to make such deductions from my salary.

(please tick as appropriate⁶)

 

☐	I wish to make a cash payment to the Company in respect of the outstanding Tax Liabilities (after deduction by the Company) arising from this exercise and enclose a second cheque made payable to the Company for £●.

 

☐	I authorise the Company to retain and to sell on my behalf sufficient Shares so as to realise an amount sufficient to discharge the Tax Liabilities arising from this exercise.

If applicable, I hereby request you to despatch a balance certificate for the EMI Option to subscribe for any Shares included in the EMI Option referred to overleaf and not exercised on this occasion, by post at my risk to the address mentioned below.

 

Signature:						Date:
Surname:
Forename(s):
Address:

[If the shares are restricted under ITEPA the Option Holder should be required to enter into a Joint Election with the Company to which this Exercise Notice should refer.]

 

4

Although the Option referred to overleaf is personal to the holder named overleaf it may be exercised by his personal representative(s) if he dies while the Option is still capable of exercise provided the personal representative(s) does/do so before the expiration of 12 months from the date of the Option Holder’s death or 10 years from the date of its grant (if sooner). If there are more than one, each of the personal representatives must sign this form. A copy of the Grant of Probate must be provided with the completed Notice of Exercise.

5	The remittance should be for an amount equal to the Option Price per Share shown overleaf, multiplied by the number of Shares applied for.

6

Please tick the appropriate box. If you fail to tick a box or if you tick the first box but your cash payment or next month’s salary are insufficient to cover the full liability, the Company will retain and sell sufficient shares to cover the liability or shortfall or will withhold the transferring of the shares to you until the full tax liabilities have been met by you.

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In Witness whereof the parties have signed this Agreement on the date specified above:

 

EXECUTED as a DEED

)

but not delivered until the date hereof

)

for and on behalf of THE COMPANY

)

Director

Director/Secretary

 

SIGNED as a DEED

)

but not delivered until the date hereof

)

by ●

)

in the presence of:

)

 

Name of Witness
Address

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Exhibit 10.3

 

 

RULES OF THE

NuCana BioMed Limited

2016 SHARE OPTION SCHEME (INCLUDING ENTERPRISE

MANAGEMENT INCENTIVES & INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS)

 

 

Approved and Adopted by the Board of NuCana BioMed Ltd

on 14 January 2016

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CONTENTS

 

1.		INTERPRETATION			1
2.		PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE GRANT OF OPTIONS			6
3.		LIMITS AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS OF THE SCHEME RULES			7
4.		NON-ASSIGNABILITY OF OPTIONS			8
5.		EXERCISE CONDITIONS			8
6.		EXERCISE OF OPTION			9
7.		CESSATION OF EMPLOYMENT			11
8.		CHANGE OF CONTROL AND SALE OF THE COMPANY			12
9.		WINDING-UP OF THE COMPANY			14
10.		VARIATION OF CAPITAL			14
11.		ALTERATIONS TO THE RULES			15
12.		MISCELLANEOUS			16
13.		GOVERNING LAW			17

 

SCHEDULE 1		LETTER OF INVITATION
SCHEDULE 2		OPTION AGREEMENT
SCHEDULE 3		INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS: US SUB-PLAN

 

i

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NuCana Biomed Limited

2016 SHARE OPTION SCHEME

RULES

(INCLUDING ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT INCENTIVES

& INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS)

 

1.		INTERPRETATION
1.1		In these Rules (unless the context otherwise requires) the following words and expressions shall have the following meanings:
		“Admission”		the admission of part of or the entire issued share capital of the Company (or any holding company of the Company) to listing on the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and to trading on the market for listed securities of London Stock Exchange plc, or to trading on AIM or to trading on any recognised investment exchange (as that term is defined in section 841 ICTA);
		“Adoption Date”		the date on which the Scheme is adopted by the Board/Company;
		“AIM”		the market of that name operated by the London Stock Exchange Plc;
		“Any Other EMI Scheme”		any scheme (other than the Scheme) adopted by the Company or any Group Member or by the Board which provides for the grant of options to acquire Shares which are Qualifying Options;
		“Any Other Scheme”		any scheme (other than the Scheme) approved by the Company in general meeting or adopted by the Board which provides for the acquisition of Shares by or on behalf of employees or directors of the Group;
		“Appropriate Period”		as defined in Rule 8.3;
		“Associated Company”		has the meaning given to that expression by section 416 ICTA;
		“Auditors”		the auditors for the time being of the Company (acting as experts and not as arbitrators);

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		“Board”		the board of directors for the time being of the Company or a committee thereof duly authorised for the purposes of the Scheme;
		“Capital”		issued equity share capital of the Company as that term is defined in section 548 of the Companies Act 2006;
		“Change of Control”		means any of the events set out in Rule 8.1 (a) to (c);
		“Close Period”		any period where there are restrictions on dealing in the shares as stipulated by a relevant authority including under the rules of AIM;
		“Company”		NuCana BioMed Limited registered in the UK with registration number 03308778 and whose registered address is 77-78 Cannon Street, London, England, EC4N 6AF;
		“Control”		has the meaning given to it by section 840 ICTA and “Controlled” shall have a similar meaning;
		“Date of Grant”		the date on which an Option was or is to be granted under Rule 2;
		“Eligible Employee”		An employee or director of the Company or of a Qualifying Subsidiary and additionally, in the case of an Option which is to be granted as an EMI Option, a person who at the appropriate time (as defined in Schedule 5) also satisfies the requirements of paragraphs 25 and 26 of Schedule 5, and whose average amount per week of reckonable time in relevant employment (as defined in section 535(3) ITEPA and paragraph 26 Schedule 5) during a tax year is not less than 25 hours a week or such other relevant statutory threshold at the appropriate time;
		“EMI Code”		the provisions set out in sections 527 to 541 ITEPA (inclusive), Schedule 5 and Part 4 Schedule 7D TCGA;
		“EMI Option”		a right (for the time being subsisting) to acquire Shares under the Scheme in accordance with these Rules and which is a Qualifying Option;
		“Exercise Conditions”		conditions, if any, determined by the Board at the Date of Grant and as set out in the Appendix of the Option Agreement required to be satisfied before the Option can be exercised, such conditions being subject to the provisions set out in Rule 5;

 

2

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		“FSMA”		the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;
		“Group”		the Company and its Subsidiaries and “Group Member” shall be construed accordingly;
		“HMRC”		HM Revenue and Customs;
		“Incentive Stock Option”		means an option or portion thereof intended to meet the requirements of an incentive stock option as defined in US Code Section 422, subject to the provisions of Schedule 3 to these Rules and designated as an Incentive Stock Option in the applicable Option Agreement, and if the Board does not designate an Option as an Incentive Stock Option in the Option Agreement, the terms of the Option Agreement for such Option hereby provide that the Option will not be treated as an Incentive Stock Option under US Code Section 422:
		“ICTA”		the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988;
		“ITEPA”		the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003;
		“Joint Election”		means a joint election pursuant to sections 425, 430 or 431 ITEPA;
		“Letter of Invitation”		a letter substantially in the form set out in Schedule 1 to these Rules provided by the Company to an employee or director inviting him to accept the grant of an Option;
		“Market Value”		has the same meaning as it has for the purposes of Part VIII TCGA and which shall be deemed to be:
				(a) the middle market quotation of a Share as decided from the Official List for the dealing day immediately preceding the Date of Grant; or
				(b) (if the Shares are not for the time being so quoted) the price determined by the Board, as being the market value of a Share on the day prior to the day on which the Option in question is granted
				and, for an EMI Option agreed by Shares Valuation at HMRC
				and, for an Incentive Stock Option the Fair Market Value as defined in Schedule 3 to these Rules;

 

3

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		“Material Interest”		means an interest in the Company as set out in paragraph 29 of Schedule 5;
		“NIC”		national insurance contributions;
		“Notice of Exercise”		a notice of exercise substantially in the form set out in the Appendix to the Option Agreement;
		“Notice of Grant”		in the case of Options which are to be EMI Options, a notification to HMRC to be jointly signed by
				(a) the employer company of the Option Holder and
				(b) the Option Holder
				in such form required by HMRC from time to time;
		“Official List”		the official listing as referred to in Part VI FSMA;
		“Option”		an option to acquire Shares granted under these Rules, whether an EMI Option or an Unapproved Option or an Incentive Stock Option;
		“Option Agreement”		a written agreement between the Company and the Option Holder in the form of a deed substantially in the form set out in Schedule 2 to these Rules and (i) if it is an EMI Option containing the information required by Schedule 5; and (ii) if it is an Incentive Stock Option being subject to the provisions of Schedule 3 to these Rules;
		“Option Holder”		a person who holds an Option or (where the context admits) his personal representatives;
		“Option Price”		the price at which each Share may be acquired on the exercise of an Option determined by the Board at the Date of Grant being not substantially less than the Market Value and, subject to Rule 10, not less than the nominal value of the Share where the Shares are to be acquired by direct issue from the Company;
		“Qualifying Option”		an option which at the time of grant meets the requirements of Schedule 5 and in respect of which a Notice of Grant is executed;
		“Qualifying Subsidiary”		has the meaning given in paragraph 11 of Schedule 5;
		“Redundancy”		termination of employment by reason of redundancy in accordance with section 139 Employment Rights Act 1996;

 

4

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		“Relevant CSOP Option”		an option to acquire shares under a scheme approved pursuant to the provisions of Schedule 4 ITEPA;
		“Rules”		these rules of the Scheme as from time to time altered pursuant to the provisions of Rule 11;
		“Sale”		the making of one or more agreements (whether conditional or not) for an acquisition of the Capital of the Company giving rise to a change of Control of the Company;
		“Schedule 5”		Schedule 5 ITEPA;
		“Scheme”		means the 2016 NuCana BioMed Limited Share Option Scheme;
		“Secondary NIC Liability”		any employer’s secondary NIC charge arising on the exercise or release of an Option;
		“Share”		a fully paid ordinary share of the Company;
		“Subsidiaries”		a subsidiary as defined under section 1159 Companies Act 2006;
		“Tax Liabilities”		any income tax and NIC charge arising as a consequence of the exercise or release of the Option or in respect of the Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of such options and including arising under a Joint Election or receipt of money or money’s worth in connection with such Options or the acquired Shares, for which the Company or a Group Member has accounted or is required to account for to HMRC and including, unless otherwise stated, where permitted by law the employer’s national insurance contributions (or their equivalent);
		“TCGA”		the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992;
		“UK Listing Authority”		the Financial Services Authority acting in its capacity as the competent authority for the purposes of Part VI Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;
		“Unapproved Option”		an option to acquire Shares granted under this Scheme and subject to these Rules which:
				(a) is designated an Unapproved Option; and/or
				(b) does not fall within the provisions of Schedules 3, 4 or 5 ITEPA and does not satisfy the EMI Code but in respect of which these Rules apply; and/or
				(c) a Non-Qualified Option as defined in paragraph 3.3 of Schedule 3 to these Rules.

 

5

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1.2		Words denoting the singular shall include the plural and vice versa and words denoting the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender.
1.3		Rule headings are inserted for convenience only and are to be ignored in construing these Rules.
1.4		References in these Rules to any statute shall be deemed to include every modification, amendment and/or re-enactment by statute or sub-ordinate legislation for the time being in force.
1.5		References in these Rules to “month” shall be deemed to be references to a calendar month.
2.		PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE GRANT OF OPTIONS
2.1		In its absolute discretion, the Board has the power to grant Options (whether EMI Options or Unapproved Options or Incentive Stock Options) under the Scheme to Eligible Employees:
		(a)		subject to the limitations and conditions contained in these Rules;
		(b)		provided they are not prohibited by law; and
		(c)		for commercial reasons in order to recruit or retain an Eligible Employee in the Group.
2.2		The procedure for granting Options shall be as follows:
		(a)		the Board shall by resolution:
				(i)		select a number of Eligible Employees to whom Options shall be granted and the intended Date of Grant;
				(ii)		determine the maximum number of Shares which each such Eligible Employee shall be entitled to acquire on the exercise of the Options;
				(iii)		determine the Option Price, the periods during which Options may be exercised, and any Exercise Conditions to apply to the option to be granted;
				(iv)		specify which Options shall be EMI Options or Unapproved Options or Incentive Stock Options;
				(v)		determine if the Option Holder is to indemnify against secondary NIC Liability under Rule 2.6;

 

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		(b)		the Board shall send to each selected Eligible Employee the following documents to invite him or her to enter into an Option Agreement:
				(i)		a Letter of Invitation;
				(ii)		a copy Letter of Invitation (to sign and return);
				(iii)		an Option Agreement;
				(iv)		a Notice of Grant;
				(v)		a copy of the Rules;
				(vi)		any Explanatory Notes (if prepared); and
				(vii)		the Articles of Association of the Company;
		(c)		the Option Agreement must be duly executed by the Company and the Eligible Employee within 14 days of the date of the Letter of Invitation (or such other date determined by the Board) and the date when the Option Agreement is duly executed shall be the date of the Date of Grant.
2.3		The Option Agreement shall serve as evidence of the grant of the Option and accordingly no further certificate shall be issued to the Option Holder.
2.4		The Option shall state if the Option is being granted as an EMI Option, or to what extent it is being granted as an EMI Option; or alternatively if it is being granted as an Incentive Stock Option, or to what extent it is being granted as an Incentive Stock Option; otherwise in each case it shall be granted as an Unapproved Option.
2.5		If an Option Agreement is not duly executed as required under Rule 2.2 within the time limit specified the terms of the Letter of Invitation shall immediately lapse at the end of the period referred to therein and the Option shall not be granted nor be deemed to have been granted to the Eligible Employee.
2.6		It shall be a condition of the grant of an Option that the Option Holder:
		(a)		indemnifies the Company and any other Group Member to the extent permitted by law against any Tax Liabilities and where the Board so requires Secondary NIC Liability (together referred to as “Liabilities”); and
		(b)		enters into a Joint Election should the Board so require at any time prior to and as a condition of the exercise of the Option.
3.		LIMITS AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS OF THE SCHEME RULES
3.1		An EMI Option granted to an Eligible Employee under these Rules shall be limited and take effect so that the aggregate Market Value at the Date of Grant of Shares which may be acquired on the exercise of that EMI Option when added to:

 

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		(a)		the aggregate Market Value at the Date of Grant of Shares which may be acquired on the exercise of Qualifying Options granted to him pursuant to the Scheme and Any Other EMI Scheme; and
		(b)		the aggregate Market Value at Date of Grant of Shares which may be acquired on the exercise of any Relevant CSOP Option held by such Eligible Employee at the Date of Grant
		shall not exceed £250,000 or such other sum as determined under paragraph 5 of Schedule 5.
3.2		To the extent that the aggregate Market Value of Shares under any EMI Option exceeds such sum as referred to in Rule 3.1, any Option granted over Shares representing the excess shall be granted under an Unapproved Option.
3.3		Pursuant to Rule 3.1 the Market Value of Shares shall be calculated at the time the options in relation to those Shares is granted or such other time as agreed in writing by HMRC.
3.4		If an Eligible Employee has previously been granted Qualifying Options under the Scheme or Any Other EMI Scheme over Shares with an aggregate Market Value of £250,000 as referred to in Rule 3.1 above (including EMI Options which have since been exercised or released) then any Option which shall be granted to such Eligible Employee within three years of the Date of Grant of the last such Qualifying Option shall be an Unapproved Option.
3.5		No Option shall be granted at a date more than ten years after the Adoption Date without further authorisation by the Company in general meeting.
3.6		Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Rules the Company may not issue Qualifying Options under the Scheme or any Other EMI Scheme such that the Market Value at the date of grant of Shares subject to such Qualifying Options exceeds £3 million or such other sum as determined under paragraph 7 of Schedule 5.
4.		NON-ASSIGNABILITY OF OPTIONS
		Except as otherwise specifically provided in these Rules, each Option shall be exercisable only by the Option Holder to whom it is granted and may not be transferred, assigned or charged, and on any purported transfer, assignment or charge the Option shall automatically lapse.
5.		EXERCISE CONDITIONS
5.1		Exercise Conditions (if any) shall be:
		(a)		in respect of dates or events or profits or individual or collective performance criteria for a period which begins no earlier than the start of the accounting period in which the Date of Grant falls; and

 

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		(b)		capable of independent objective assessment with a view to determining whether they have been satisfied; and
		(c)		set out in detail at the Date of Grant in the Option Agreement.
5.2		Different Exercise Conditions may be specified in respect of different numbers of the Shares comprised in the same Option.
5.3		Subject to the provisions of these Rules where an Option has been granted subject to Exercise Conditions, the Board shall as soon as reasonably practicable following the satisfaction of any Exercise Conditions give written notice to inform the Option Holder concerned that his Option has become exercisable subject always to the provisions of Rule 6.
5.4		Where events happen which cause the Board to consider that the Exercise Conditions are no longer appropriate, or the Board at its entire discretion so decides, it may:
		(a)		vary the Exercise Conditions provided that the new Exercise Conditions are not more difficult to satisfy than the original Performance Conditions; or
		(b)		remove the Exercise Conditions as a requirement of the exercise of the Option;
		PROVIDED that the Option Holder is given notice in writing of the variation or removal as soon as practicable.
6.		EXERCISE OF OPTION
6.1		An Option shall be exercised:
		(a)		pursuant to the terms of exercise set out in the Option Agreement; and
		(b)		by lodging with the Company Secretary or such other person as the Board may specify, the relevant Option Agreement, a duly completed Notice of Exercise and (subject to Rule 8.6) the payment required in respect of the Option Price and any Tax Liabilities and secondary NIC liability.
6.2		Lapse of Options
		An Option shall cease to be exercisable and shall lapse forthwith on the occurrence of the following events:
		(a)		5pm on the day before the tenth anniversary of the grant of the Option;
		(b)		the Option Holder ceases to be an employee of the Company or of a Qualifying Subsidiary save as provided for in Rule 7;
		(c)		the Option Holder does or suffers any act or thing (including bankruptcy) whereby he would or might be deprived of the legal or beneficial ownership of the Option;
		(d)		the lapsing events referred to in Rules 4, 7, 8 and 9.

 

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6.3		Result of Exercise of Options
		(a)		Subject to:
				(i)		the obtaining of any necessary consent from H.M. Treasury, the Bank of England, the UK Listing Authority, the London Stock Exchange Plc or other relevant authority;
				(ii)		the terms of any such consent;
				(iii)		receipt by the Company of the appropriate payment for Shares to be acquired on exercise in full
				the Company shall (subject to Rule 8.7) within 30 days of receipt by the Company Secretary of a valid Notice of Exercise issue to or arrange the transfer to the Option Holder the number of Shares in respect of which the Option has been exercised (but if during a Close Period such issue or transfer shall be effected as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of the Close Period).
		(b)		The Board shall at all times keep available sufficient unissued Shares or shall procure that there are available sufficient Shares to satisfy the exercise of all Options granted under the Scheme. For this purpose the Board may enter into an agreement with any individual, company or the trustees of any employee benefit trust for the provision by such persons of Shares to satisfy Options. In such case, and if appropriate, the Option Price payable by the Option Holder shall be received by a member of the Board as trustee for such persons (to whom it shall account) and the Board shall procure the transfer of Shares by such persons upon exercise of the Option.
		(c)		All Shares issued on exercise of Options shall on issue rank equally in all respects with the Company’s existing Shares of the same class, save that the Shares issued under the Scheme will not rank for any dividends or other distributions declared or recommended the record date for which falls on or prior to the date when the Option is exercised.
6.4		Tax Liability
		(a)		It being a condition of the grant of an Option that each Option Holder indemnifies the Company and any other Group Member against Tax Liabilities and/or secondary NIC Liabilities (“Liabilities”) pursuant to Rule 2.6(a), to the extent that the Liabilities cannot be (or are not) deducted from payments made by the Company or Group Member to the Option Holder, the Company shall be authorised by the Option Holder:
				(i)		to retain and sell on the Option Holder’s behalf sufficient Shares issued or acquired on exercise of the Option to raise the necessary funds to meet and to apply such funds in discharging the Liabilities or reimbursing the Company or the relevant Group Member; and/or

 

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				(ii)		to make such other arrangements with the Option Holder in question as the Board deems appropriate for the reimbursement to the Company or relevant Group Member of the Liabilities.
7.		CESSATION OF EMPLOYMENT
		Subject to Rule 6.2 and subject to Rule 5:
7.1		If an Option Holder dies before exercising an Option or part thereof, the Option may (and must, if at all) be exercised by his personal representatives to the extent that any Exercise Conditions have been met within the period ending on the earlier of:
		(a)		the expiry of 12 months after the date of death; and
		(b)		the time referred to in Rule 6.2(a), and failing such exercise the Option shall lapse.
7.2		If an Option Holder ceases to be an Eligible Employee of the Company or of a Qualifying Subsidiary otherwise than on death:
		(a)		by reason of cessation of employment with any Group Member due to ill health, injury or disability, redundancy or retirement on reaching the age at which he is bound to retire in accordance with the terms of his contract of employment; or
		(b)		by reason only that his office or employment is in a company of which the Company ceases to have Control; or
		(c)		his office or employment relates to a business or part of a business which is transferred to a person who is neither an Associated Company of the Company nor a company of which the Company has Control; or
		(d)		by reason of cessation of employment for any other reason, apart from summary dismissal for fraud or gross misconduct;
		then any Option may be exercised, always only to the extent that any Exercise Conditions have been met when the Option Holder ceases to be an Eligible Employee of the Company or of a Qualifying Subsidiary, at any time prior to the expiry of the period of twelve months after his so ceasing and any Option not so exercised shall automatically lapse. For the avoidance of doubt where an Option Holder ceases to be an Eligible Employee of the Company or of a Qualifying Subsidiary, any part of an Option in respect of which Exercise Conditions have not been met shall lapse forthwith.
7.3		If an Option Holder, other than for a reason specified in Rules 7.1 or 7.2, ceases to be an Eligible Employee of the Company or of a Qualifying Subsidiary including by reason of termination or repudiation of contract by the Company whether lawful or otherwise then

 

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		any Option not exercised by the time of such cessation shall immediately cease to be exercisable and shall lapse 90 days after such cessation unless within 90 days after cessation the Board in its absolute discretion shall permit the Option to be exercised in whole or in part within a specified period in which event the Option may be exercised by the Option Holder to the extent so permitted by the Board so long as it is prior to the time referred to in Rule 6.1(a), and failing such exercise the Option shall lapse.
7.4		An Option Holder shall not be treated for the purposes of these Rules as ceasing employment until such time as he is no longer a director or employee of the Company or of any Qualifying Subsidiary and an Option Holder (being a woman) who is absent from work by reason of pregnancy or confinement and who exercises her right to return to work under the Employment Rights Act 1996 before exercising an Option under the Scheme shall be treated for the purposes of these Rules as not having ceased to be such an employee.
7.5		For the purposes of these Rules, where an Option Holder’s contract of employment with the Group is terminated by a Group Member without notice the Option Holder’s employment shall be deemed to cease on the date on which the termination takes effect and where the said contract is terminated by notice given or received by a Group Member, the Option Holder’s employment shall be deemed to cease on the date on which that notice is served.
8.		CHANGE OF CONTROL AND SALE OF THE COMPANY
8.1		Change of Control – If:
		(a)		any person or group of persons acting in concert obtains Control of the Company as a result of making:
				(i)		an offer to acquire more than 50% of the Capital of the Company which is made on a condition such that if it is satisfied the person or group of persons will have Control of the Company; or
				(ii)		a general offer to acquire all the Capital (or all the shares which are of the same class of those to which the Option relates); or
		(b)		any person becomes entitled or bound to acquire shares in the capital of the Company under sections 974 to 991 of the Companies Act 2006; or
		(c)		under sections 895 to 901 of the Companies Act 2006 the court sanctions a compromise or arrangement proposed for the purposes of or in connection with a scheme for the reconstruction of the Company or its amalgamation with any other company or companies;
		and if the Option Agreement allows for exercise of the Option on a Change of Control, an Option Holder (or his personal representative) may at any time during the three days prior to or within the Appropriate Period, exercise any Option or part thereof which has not lapsed. Any Option which is not so exercised shall lapse at the expiry of the Appropriate Period.

 

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8.2		Replacement Options:
		(a)		If a company (in this Rule called the “Acquiring Company”) has acquired Control of the Company as a result of any of the events described in Rule 8.1(a) or 8.1(c), or becomes entitled or bound as mentioned in Rule 8.1(b) or obtains all the shares of the Company whose shares are subject to any outstanding Qualifying Options as a result of a qualifying exchange of shares (as defined in paragraph 40(1) Schedule 5) (such acquiring of Control or becoming entitled or bound or obtains, being referred to below as a “Specific Event”), any Option Holder may by agreement with the Acquiring Company at any time within the Appropriate Period as defined in Rule 8.3 below release his rights in respect of any EMI Option held by him (in this Rule referred to as the “Old Option”) in consideration of the grant to him of rights (in this Rule referred to as the “Replacement Option”) which are equivalent and relate to shares in the Acquiring Company, and which comply with Rule 8.2(b).
		(b)		A Replacement Option is one in relation to which the requirements of paragraph 43 of Schedule 5 are satisfied at the time of release of the Old Option including grant by reason of the Option Holder’s employment with the Acquiring Company.
8.3		“Appropriate Period” means:
		(a)		in a case falling within Rule 8.1(a) and where Rule 8.1(b) does not apply, the period of six months beginning with the time when the person making the offer has obtained Control of the Company and any condition subject to which the offer is made is satisfied;
		(b)		in a case falling within Rule 8.1(b) the period during which the person remains bound or entitled as mentioned in that paragraph; and
		(c)		in a case falling within Rule 8.1(c) the period of six months beginning with the time when the court sanctions the compromise or arrangement.
8.4		If a Replacement Option shall be granted to an Option Holder by reference to any Specific Event, Rules 8.1(a), 8.1(b) and 8.1(c) above shall cease to apply by reference to that Specific Event (but without prejudice to their application by reference to any other Specific Event). Any EMI Option which is not exercised or released pursuant to this Rule within the Appropriate Period following a Specific Event (but not any Replacement Option granted by reference to that Specific Event) shall lapse.
8.5		Sale: If the Option Agreement allows for exercise of the Option on a Sale, in the event that the Board becomes aware that there may be a Sale of the Company they shall give notice (a “Sale Notice”) in writing to the Option Holder specifying that a Sale may be forthcoming and that the Option will lapse immediately following the sale if not exercised prior to completion of the Sale unless a Replacement Option is offered to the Option Holder in accordance with Rule 8.2 (or unless some other form of replacement option is offered by the prospective purchaser).

 

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8.6		At any time after receipt of a Sale Notice under Rule 8.5 and prior to completion of the Sale, the Option Holder may exercise the Option in accordance with Rule 6 but only on the basis that the Option Holder agrees to sell to the purchaser on completion of the Sale all the Shares acquired as a result of the exercise of the Option. Any such Exercise Notice from the Option Holder shall be accompanied by a cheque for the aggregate Option Price but shall specify the number of Shares over which the Option Holder wishes to exercise his Option, and any such notice may not be withdrawn without the consent of the Board.
8.7		Completion of the subscription for, or transfer of, the Shares shall take place prior to completion of the Sale and the Company shall issue and allot the relevant Shares in favour of the Option Holder and shall register such issue and allotment or transfer prior to completion of the Sale.
8.8		In the event that the Sale proceeds are received directly by the Option Holder, the Option Holder undertakes to reimburse the Company (or any other Group Company) for a sum equal to the aggregate Option Price, along with any Tax liabilities and/or secondary NIC Liability that may be due in relation to the exercise of the Option, whether by deduction under Rule 6.4 or otherwise.
8.9		Rule 8.5 to 8.8 above dealing with a Sale shall take priority over Rule 8.1 dealing with other forms of Change of Control and for the avoidance of doubt in the event of a Sale, Rule 8.1 will not apply but Rules 8.2 to 8.4 may apply.
9.		WINDING-UP OF THE COMPANY
9.1		If at any time while any Option remains unexercised notice is duly given of a general meeting of the Company at which a resolution will be proposed for the voluntary liquidation of the Company, every Option which has not lapsed prior to such resolution shall be exercisable in whole or in part until the commencement of such winding-up within the meaning of Section 86 of the Insolvency Act 1986.
9.2		Pursuant to the above Rule 9.1 the Company shall give to each Option Holder holding any unexercised Option notice of any meeting called for the purpose of considering a resolution for the voluntary liquidation of the Company and shall at the same time give him notice of his rights under this Rule 9 and subject to the foregoing, all Options shall lapse on the commencement of any liquidation of the Company.
10.		VARIATION OF CAPITAL
10.1		Subject to Rules 10.3 and 10.4 below, in the event of any increase or variation of the Capital (whenever effected) by way of capitalisation or rights issue, or sub-division, consolidation or reduction, the Board may make such adjustments as they consider appropriate under Rule 10.2 below.

 

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10.2		An adjustment made under this Rule 10 shall be to one or more of the following:
		(a)		the number of Shares in respect of which any Option granted under the Scheme may be exercised;
		(b)		the price at which shares may be acquired by the exercise of any such Option;
		(c)		where any such Option has been exercised but no Shares have been transferred pursuant to such exercise, the number of Shares which may be so transferred and the price at which they may be acquired.
10.3		Except in the case of a capitalisation issue, no adjustment under Rule 10.2 above shall be made without the prior confirmation in writing by the Auditors or other share valuers to the Board that it is in their opinion fair and reasonable.
10.4		No adjustment under Rule 10.2 above shall be made
		(a)		which would affect EMI Options which are Qualifying Options without the prior approval of HM Revenue and Customs if so required;
		(b)		as a result of which the aggregate amount payable on the exercise of an Option in full would be increased or reduced.
10.5		An adjustment under Rule 10.2 above may have the effect of reducing the price at which Shares may be acquired by the exercise of the Option to less than their nominal value, but only if and to the extent that the Board shall be authorised to capitalise from the reserves of the Company a sum equal to the amount by which the nominal value of the Shares in respect of which the Option is exercised and which are to be allotted pursuant to such exercise exceeds the price at which the same may be subscribed for, and to apply such sum in paying up such amount on such Shares, and so that on exercise of any Option in respect of which such a reduction shall have been made, the Board shall capitalise such sum (if any) and apply the same in paying up such amount as aforesaid.
10.6		As soon as reasonably practicable after making any adjustment under Rule 10.2 above, the Board shall give notice in writing thereof to each Option Holder.
11.		ALTERATIONS TO THE RULES
11.1		The Board may by resolution at any time make any alteration to the Rules which it thinks fit subject to the provisions of this Rule 11.
11.2		No such alteration which would affect an EMI Option which is a Qualifying Option shall take effect if the result would be:
		(a)		to increase the aggregate Market Value of the Shares that are the subject of such Qualifying Option; or
		(b)		that the requirements of Schedule 5 would cease to be met in relation to such EMI Option.

 

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11.3		No alteration shall be made which would materially increase the liability of any Option Holder or which would materially decrease the value of his subsisting rights attached to any Option without in each case that Option Holder’s prior written consent.
11.4		No alteration shall take effect without the prior approval of the Company in general meeting (except for minor amendments to benefit administration of the Scheme, to comply with or to take account of any applicable legislation or statutory regulations or any change therein or any requirements of HM Revenue and Customs for the approval of the Scheme under any such legislation or regulations or to obtain or maintain favourable taxation treatment for the Company or the Option Holders or potential Option Holders).
11.5		As soon as reasonably practicable after making any alteration under Rule 11.1 above the Board shall give notice in writing thereof to each Option Holder.
12.		MISCELLANEOUS
12.1		Any Option granted pursuant to the Rules shall not form part of the contract of employment of any person who participates in the Scheme. The rights and obligations of any individual under the terms of his office or employment with any Group Member shall not be affected by his participation in the Scheme or any right which he may have to participate therein, and an individual who participates therein shall waive any and all rights to compensation or damages in consequence of the termination of his office or employment for any reason whatsoever (including unfair or wrongful dismissal) insofar as those rights arise or may arise from his ceasing to have rights under or be entitled to exercise any Option under the Scheme as a result of such termination. No such participation, rights or benefits shall be taken into account for the purposes of calculating the amount payable to any pension fund. Options granted pursuant to the Scheme shall not constitute any representation or warranty that any benefit will accrue to any individual who is granted an Option.
12.2		The Scheme shall in all respects be administered by the Board who may from time to time make and vary such rules and regulations for its conduct not inconsistent with these Rules and may from time to time establish such procedures for administration and implementation of the Scheme and Rules as it thinks fit, and in the event of any dispute or disagreement as to the interpretation of the Rules, or of any rule, regulation or procedure, or as to any question or right arising from or related to the Scheme, the decision of the Board shall be final and binding upon all persons (subject to the written concurrence of the Auditors having been obtained when so required by the Rules).
12.3		Any Group Member may provide money to the trustees of any trust or any other person to enable them or him to acquire shares to be held for the purposes of the Scheme, or enter into any guarantee or indemnity for these purposes, to the extent permitted by the Companies Act 2006.

 

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12.4		In any matter in which they are required to act under the Rules, the Auditors shall be deemed to be acting as experts and not as arbitrators and the Arbitration Acts 1950 to 1996 shall not apply to these Rules.
12.5		Any notice or other communication under or in connection with the Rules may be given by personal delivery or by sending the same by post, in the case of a company to its registered office and in the case of an individual to his last known address, or, where he is a director or employee of a Company participating in the Scheme, either to his last known address or to the address of the place of business at which he performs the whole or substantially the whole of the duties of his office or employment, and where a notice or other communication is given by first-class post, it shall be deemed to have been received 48 hours after it was put into the post properly addressed and stamped.
12.6		The costs of introducing and administering the Scheme shall be borne by the Company or any Group Member.
12.7		The Board shall maintain all necessary books of account and records relating to the Scheme.
12.8		Subject to the Articles of Association of the Company, an Option Holder who is a director of the Company may, notwithstanding his interest, vote on any resolution concerning the Scheme (other than in respect of his own participation therein) and may retain any benefits under the Scheme.
13.		GOVERNING LAW
		The Rules and the Scheme shall in all respects be governed by the laws of England.

 

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THIS IS THE SCHEDULE TO THE RULES OF THE NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED 2016 SHARE OPTION SCHEME (INCLUDING ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT INCENTIVES & US INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS)

SCHEDULE 1        LETTER OF INVITATION

 

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SCHEDULE 2        OPTION AGREEMENT

Form of Unapproved Option Agreement

This Agreement which is in the form of a deed is made the [●] day of [●]                  2016

BETWEEN

 

(1)	NuCana Biomed Limited (03308778 ) whose registered office is at 77-78 Cannon Street, London, England, EC4N 6AF (“the Company”); and

 

(2)	[option holder’s name] of [option holder’s address] who will become “the Option Holder”

RECITALS

 

A.	This Unapproved Option is granted subject to the rules of the 2016 NuCana Biomed Limited Share Option Scheme (“the Scheme”).

 

B.	A copy of the rules which is appended to this Agreement provides for the grant of options for commercial reasons in order to recruit and retain key Eligible Employees (“the Rules”).

 

C.	The Option Holder [commenced employment] or [became a director] with the Company on [●] (“the Commencement Date”).

NOW THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSES

 

1.	In this Agreement the definitions in the Rules shall apply.

 

2.	The Company hereby grants to the Option Holder the Unapproved Option to acquire a maximum of [●] Shares, at an Option Price of [●] per Share.

 

3

Exercise

 

3.1

The options shall be exercisable as follows:

 

a)

options over [●] Shares may be exercised at any time after the date falling 12 months from the Commencement Date (“the First Anniversary”) provided the Option Holder is an Eligible Employee on the First Anniversary;

 

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b)

options over a further [●] Shares may be exercised at any time after the date falling 24 months from the Commencement Date (“the Second Anniversary”) provided the Option Holder is an Eligible Employee on the Second Anniversary;

 

c)

options over a further [●] Shares may be exercised at any time after the date falling 36 months from the Commencement Date (“the Third Anniversary”) provided the Option Holder is an Eligible Employee on the Third Anniversary;

 

d)

options the final [●] Shares may be exercised at any time after the date falling 48 months from the Commencement Date (“the Fourth Anniversary”) provided the Option Holder is an Eligible Employee on the Fourth Anniversary;

and where options become exerciseable in accordance with the foregoing they shall be referred to as having “vested” or “vest” and those which are not exerciseable shall be referred to as “unvested”.

 

3.2	Upon the Option Holder ceasing to be an Eligible Employee for any reason all options which are unvested shall lapse forthwith.

 

3.3	All unvested options which have not lapsed in accordance with clause 3.2 shall immediately vest if following a Change of Control of the Company (as defined in the Rules):-

 

(a)

The Option Holder remains an Eligible Employee; and

 

(b)

One of the following conditions is also satisfied:-

 

(i)

The Option Holder has experienced a material reduction in his base compensation payable on or around the Date of Grant or as the same may be increased from time to time; or

 

(ii)

The Option Holder has experienced a material change or reduction in his authority, duties, reporting or responsibilities, provided, however, that a change in job title shall not be deemed a “material reduction” unless the Option Holder’s new authority, duties, reporting or responsibilities are substantially changed or reduced from the prior authority, duties, reporting or responsibilities.

 

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4.	The Unapproved Option may not be exercised:

 

4.1

after the time in Rule 6.2(a);

 

4.2

from the date the Option Holder ceases to be an Eligible Employee of the Company or of any Qualifying Subsidiary in accordance with Rule 6.2 (b) (except to the extent provided in Rule 6.2 (b) and Rule 7) and Rule 6.2 (b) shall be deemed to refer to the Option Holder ceasing to be an “Eligible Employee”;

 

4.3

following a Change of Control or a Sale of the Company except to the extent provided in Rule 8;

 

4.4

following the commencement of the winding up of the Company as set out in Rule 9.

provided that in the case of sub-clause 4.3 above where options have not vested in accordance with any of clauses 3.1 (a) to (d) prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control or Sale and where the vesting conditions to any such options are thereafter satisfied on the relevant vesting anniversaries occurring after the Change of Control or Sale (a “Post Event Vested Option”) the Option Holder shall remain entitled to exercise the Post Event Vested Option within the period of 30 days following the date of it becoming vested and Rule 8 shall be interpreted accordingly. Where the Post Event Vested Option is not so exercised within the period of 30 days following the date of it becoming so vested it shall lapse.

 

5.	The Unapproved Option will lapse on the occurrence of any of the events as set out in Rule 6.2.

 

6.	To exercise the Unapproved Option the Option Holder must lodge with the Company Secretary of the Company (or such other person as the Company may from time to time notify to the employee in writing):

 

6.1

this Option Agreement;

 

6.2

a duly completed Notice of Exercise in the form appended to this Option Agreement;

 

6.3

where required by the Company, a duly completed Joint Election; and

 

6.4

a cheque made payable to the Company in respect of the Option Price.

 

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7.	The Option Holder hereby:

 

7.1

covenants with the Company to allow the Company to recover from the Option Holder Tax Liabilities arising in connection with or as a result of the exercise of the Unapproved Option and to indemnify and keep indemnified on a continuing basis the Company and any Group Member in respect of such Tax Liabilities and for the purposes of such indemnity:

 

7.2

hereby authorises the Company to deduct sufficient funds which, in the reasonable opinion of the Board, would be equal to any Tax Liabilities from any payment made to or in respect of the Option Holder by it or any Group Member during the same calendar month or other relevant period in which such Tax Liabilities arise. If there is no such payment made or the Tax Liabilities exceed the amount of such payment the Option Holder hereby agrees to pay the full amount of the Tax Liabilities or any such excess (as the case may be) in cleared funds within seven days of a valid demand by the Company or any Group Member; and

 

7.3

appoints a member of the Board as his trustee for the purposes of providing the Company or any Group Member (as appropriate) with sufficient funds to recover any Tax Liabilities by receiving on trust or retaining on trust (as the case may be) (out of the total number of Shares to which the Option Holder is entitled following the relevant exercise of the Unapproved Option) the legal title to and selling such number of Shares as, in the reasonable opinion of the Board, is required to realise a cash amount equivalent to the Tax Liabilities and the Option Holder hereby covenants to pay to the Company, should such sale realise a cash amount less than the Tax Liabilities, an amount equal to the difference within seven working days of demand by the Company.

 

8.	The Unapproved Option is exercisable only by the Option Holder (or his personal representatives) and may not be transferred, assigned or charged and the Unapproved Option will lapse on the occasion of any assignment, charge, disposal or other dealing with the rights conveyed by it.

 

9.	The Company has agreed or will agree the Market Value of a Share for the purposes of this Scheme as at the Date of Grant with HM Revenue and Customs.

 

10.	A person who is not a party to this deed shall have no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of this deed. This clause does not affect any right or remedy of any person which exists or is available otherwise than pursuant to that Act.

 

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11.	The Shares which will be acquired when the Option is exercised are subject to the terms and restrictions set out in the Company’s articles of association, and a copy of the current articles of association is attached.

 

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APPENDIX

Form of Notice of Exercise

Please read the notes at the foot of his form carefully before completing it

 

To:	The Secretary

NuCana Biomed Limited

I, the undersigned¹, having become entitled so to do, hereby exercise the Unapproved Option referred to in the attached Agreement in respect of Shares comprised in the Unapproved Option upon the terms of the 2016 NuCana Biomed Limited Share Option Scheme (“Scheme”) and agree to accept the Shares to be allotted and issued pursuant to this Notice of Exercise subject to and in accordance with the memorandum and articles of association of the Company and hereby request you to place my name on the register of members in respect thereof.

I enclose a remittance for £² being the aggregate Option Price payable for the Shares in respect of which the Unapproved Option is now exercised, the Option Price (per Share) being [            ].

I understand that income tax and NIC (referred to as a Tax Liabilities in the Rules of the Scheme) may need to be accounted for by the Company to HM Revenue and Customs on this exercise and in respect of which I have indemnified the Company. I further understand that the Company has an obligation to deduct, insofar as possible, the amount of any Tax Liabilities from payments that it makes to me and I authorise the Company to make such deductions from my salary or other payments due to me.

(please tick as appropriate³)

 

☐	I wish to make a cash payment to the Company in respect of the outstanding Tax Liabilities (after deduction by the Company) arising from this exercise and enclose a second cheque made payable to the Company for £●.

 

☐	I authorise the Company to retain and to sell on my behalf sufficient Shares so as to realise an amount sufficient to discharge the Tax Liabilities arising from this exercise.

If applicable, I hereby request you to despatch a balance certificate for the Unapproved Option to subscribe for any Shares included in the Unapproved Option referred to overleaf and not exercised on this occasion, by post at my risk to the address mentioned below.

 

1

Although the Option referred to overleaf is personal to the holder named overleaf it may be exercised by his personal representative(s) if he dies while the Option is still capable of exercise provided the personal representative(s) does/do so before the expiration of 12 months from the date of the Option Holder’s death or 10 years from the date of its grant (if sooner). If there are more than one, each of the personal representatives must sign this form. A copy of the Grant of Probate must be provided with the completed Notice of Exercise.

2	The remittance should be for an amount equal to the Option Price per Share shown overleaf, multiplied by the number of Shares applied for.

3

Please tick the appropriate box. If you fail to tick a box or if you tick the first box but your cash payment or next month’s salary are insufficient to cover the full liability, the Company will retain and sell sufficient shares to cover the liability or shortfall or will withhold the transferring of the shares to you until the full tax liabilities have been met by you.

 

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Signature:						Date:
Surname:
Forename(s):
Address:

 

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In Witness whereof the parties have signed this Agreement on the date specified above:

 

EXECUTED as a DEED

)

but not delivered until the date hereof

)

for and on behalf of THE COMPANY

)

Director

Director/Secretary

 

SIGNED as a DEED

)

but not delivered until the date hereof

)

by ●

)

in the presence of:

)

 

Name of Witness
Address

 

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Form of Option Agreement

This Agreement which is in the form of a deed is made the [●] day of [●] 2016

BETWEEN

 

(1)	NuCana Biomed Limited (03308778 ) whose registered office is at 77-78 Cannon Street, London, England, EC4N 6AF (“the Company”); and

 

(2)	[employee name] of [employee address] who will become “the Option Holder”

RECITALS

 

A.	This EMI Option is granted subject to the rules of the 2016 NuCana Biomed Limited Share Option Scheme, and is granted pursuant to Schedule 5 ITEPA 2003 (“the Scheme”).

 

B.	A copy of the rules which is appended to this Agreement provides for the grant of options for commercial reasons in order to recruit and retain key employees (“the Rules”).

 

C.	The Option Holder commenced employment with the Company on [●] (“the Commencement Date”).

NOW THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSES

 

1.	In this Agreement the definitions in the Rules shall apply.

 

2.	The Company hereby grants to the Option Holder the EMI Option to acquire a maximum of [●] Shares, at an Option Price of [●] per Share.

 

3

Exercise

 

3.4

The options shall be exercisable as follows:

 

e)

options over [●] Shares may be exercised at any time after the date falling 12 months from the Commencement Date (“the First Anniversary”) provided the Option Holder is an Eligible Employee on the First Anniversary;

 

f)

options over a further [●] Shares may be exercised at any time after the date falling 24 months from the Commencement Date (“the Second Anniversary”) provided the Option Holder is an Eligible Employee on the Second Anniversary;

 

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g)

options over a further [●] Shares may be exercised at any time after the date falling 36 months from the Commencement Date (“the Third Anniversary”) provided the Option Holder is an Eligible Employee on the Third Anniversary;

 

h)

options the final [●] Shares may be exercised at any time after the date falling 48 months from the Commencement Date (“the Fourth Anniversary”) provided the Option Holder is an Eligible Employee on the Fourth Anniversary;

 

and where options become exerciseable in accordance with the foregoing they shall be referred to as having “vested” or “vest” and those which are not exerciseable shall be referred to as “unvested”.

 

3.5	Upon the Option Holder ceasing to be an Eligible Employee for any reason all options which are unvested shall lapse forthwith.

 

3.6	All unvested options which have not lapsed in accordance with clause 3.2 shall immediately vest if following a Change of Control of the Company (as defined in the Rules):-

 

(c)

The Option Holder remains an Eligible Employee; and

 

(d)

One of the following conditions is also satisfied:-

 

(i)

The Option Holder has experienced a material reduction in his base compensation payable on or around the Date of Grant or as the same may be increased from time to time; or

 

(ii)

The Option Holder has experienced a material change or reduction in his authority, duties, reporting or responsibilities, provided, however, that a change in job title shall not be deemed a “material reduction” unless the Option Holder’s new authority, duties, reporting or responsibilities are substantially changed or reduced from the prior authority, duties, reporting or responsibilities.

 

4.	The EMI Option may not be exercised:

 

4.1

after the time in Rule 6.2(a);

 

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4.2

from the date the Option Holder ceases to be an employee of the Company or of any Qualifying Subsidiary in accordance with Rule 6.2 (b) (except to the extent provided in Rule 6.2 (b) and Rule 7);

 

4.3

following a Change of Control or a Sale of the Company except to the extent provided in Rule 8;

 

4.4

following the commencement of the winding up of the Company as set out in Rule 9.

 

provided that in the case of sub-clause 4.3 above where options have not vested in accordance with any of clauses 3.1 (a) to (d) prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control or Sale and where the vesting conditions to any such options are thereafter satisfied on the relevant vesting anniversaries occurring after the Change of Control or Sale (a “Post Event Vested Option”) the Option Holder shall remain entitled to exercise the Post Event Vested Option within the period of 30 days following the date of it becoming vested and Rule 8 shall be interpreted accordingly. Where the Post Event Vested Option is not so exercised within the period of 30 days following the date of it becoming so vested it shall lapse.

 

5.	The EMI Option will lapse on the occurrence of any of the events as set out in Rule 6.2.

 

6.	To exercise the EMI Option the Option Holder must lodge with the Company Secretary of the Company (or such other person as the Company may from time to time notify to the employee in writing):

 

6.1

this Option Agreement;

 

6.2

a duly completed Notice of Exercise in the form appended to this Option Agreement;

 

6.3

where required by the Company, a duly completed Joint Election; and

 

6.4

a cheque made payable to the Company in respect of the Option Price.

 

7.	The Option Holder hereby:

 

7.1

covenants with the Company to allow the Company to recover from the Option Holder Tax Liabilities arising in connection with or as a result of the exercise of the EMI Option and to indemnify and keep indemnified on a continuing basis the Company and any Group Member in respect of such Tax Liabilities and for the purposes of such indemnity:

 

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7.2

hereby authorises the Company to deduct sufficient funds which, in the reasonable opinion of the Board, would be equal to any Tax Liabilities from any payment made to or in respect of the Option Holder by it or any Group Member during the same calendar month or other relevant period in which such Tax Liabilities arise. If there is no such payment made or the Tax Liabilities exceed the amount of such payment the Option Holder hereby agrees to pay the full amount of the Tax Liabilities or any such excess (as the case may be) in cleared funds within seven days of a valid demand by the Company or any Group Member; and

 

7.3

appoints a member of the Board as his trustee for the purposes of providing the Company or any Group Member (as appropriate) with sufficient funds to recover any Tax Liabilities by receiving on trust or retaining on trust (as the case may be) (out of the total number of Shares to which the Option Holder is entitled following the relevant exercise of the EMI Option) the legal title to and selling such number of Shares as, in the reasonable opinion of the Board, is required to realise a cash amount equivalent to the Tax Liabilities and the Option Holder hereby covenants to pay to the Company, should such sale realise a cash amount less than the Tax Liabilities, an amount equal to the difference within seven working days of demand by the Company.

 

8.	The EMI Option is exercisable only by the Option Holder (or his personal representatives) and may not be transferred, assigned or charged and the EMI Option will lapse on the occasion of any assignment, charge, disposal or other dealing with the rights conveyed by it.

 

9.	The Company has agreed or will agree the Market Value of a Share for the purposes of this Scheme as at the Date of Grant with HM Revenue and Customs.

 

10.	A person who is not a party to this deed shall have no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of this deed. This clause does not affect any right or remedy of any person which exists or is available otherwise than pursuant to that Act.

 

11.	The Shares which will be acquired when the Option is exercised are subject to the terms and restrictions set out in the Company’s articles of association, and a copy of the current articles of association is attached.

 

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APPENDIX

Form of Notice of Exercise

Please read the notes at the foot of his form carefully before completing it

 

To:	The Secretary

NuCana Biomed Limited

I, the undersigned⁴, having become entitled so to do, hereby exercise the EMI Option referred to in the attached Agreement in respect of Shares comprised in the EMI Option upon the terms of the 2016 NuCana Biomed Limited Share Option Scheme (“Scheme”) and agree to accept the Shares to be allotted and issued pursuant to this Notice of Exercise subject to and in accordance with the memorandum and articles of association of the Company and hereby request you to place my name on the register of members in respect thereof.

I enclose a remittance for £⁵ being the aggregate Option Price payable for the Shares in respect of which the EMI Option is now exercised, the Option Price (per Share) being [            ].

I understand that income tax and NIC (referred to as a Tax Liabilities in the Rules of the Scheme) may need to be accounted for by the Company to HM Revenue and Customs on this exercise and in respect of which I have indemnified the Company. I further understand that the Company has an obligation to deduct, insofar as possible, the amount of any Tax Liabilities from payments that it makes to me and I authorise the Company to make such deductions from my salary.

(please tick as appropriate⁶)

 

☐	I wish to make a cash payment to the Company in respect of the outstanding Tax Liabilities (after deduction by the Company) arising from this exercise and enclose a second cheque made payable to the Company for £●.

 

☐	I authorise the Company to retain and to sell on my behalf sufficient Shares so as to realise an amount sufficient to discharge the Tax Liabilities arising from this exercise.

If applicable, I hereby request you to despatch a balance certificate for the EMI Option to subscribe for any Shares included in the EMI Option referred to overleaf and not exercised on this occasion, by post at my risk to the address mentioned below.

 

Signature:						Date:
Surname:
Forename(s):
Address:

[If the shares are restricted under ITEPA the Option Holder should be required to enter into a Joint Election with the Company to which this Exercise Notice should refer.]

  

 

4

Although the Option referred to overleaf is personal to the holder named overleaf it may be exercised by his personal representative(s) if he dies while the Option is still capable of exercise provided the personal representative(s) does/do so before the expiration of 12 months from the date of the Option Holder’s death or 10 years from the date of its grant (if sooner). If there are more than one, each of the personal representatives must sign this form. A copy of the Grant of Probate must be provided with the completed Notice of Exercise.

5	The remittance should be for an amount equal to the Option Price per Share shown overleaf, multiplied by the number of Shares applied for.

6

Please tick the appropriate box. If you fail to tick a box or if you tick the first box but your cash payment or next month’s salary are insufficient to cover the full liability, the Company will retain and sell sufficient shares to cover the liability or shortfall or will withhold the transferring of the shares to you until the full tax liabilities have been met by you.

 

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In Witness whereof the parties have signed this Agreement on the date specified above:

 

EXECUTED as a DEED

)

but not delivered until the date hereof

)

for and on behalf of THE COMPANY

)

Director

Director/Secretary

 

SIGNED as a DEED

)

but not delivered until the date hereof

)

by ●

)

in the presence of:

)

 

Name of Witness
Address

 

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SCHEDULE 3 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS: US SUB-PLAN

UNITED STATES SUB-PLAN TO THE NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED SHARE OPTION SCHEME

 

1.

The terms and conditions of this sub-plan (this “Sub-Plan”) shall apply to Options granted to Option Holders subject to taxation in the United States (“US Participants”). The terms and conditions provided herein shall apply in addition to, or instead of where inconsistent with, the terms and conditions of the 2016 NuCana BioMed Limited Share Option Scheme (as amended and/or restated from time to time, the “Scheme”).

 

2.	Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Sub-Plan shall have the meanings set forth in the Scheme.

 

3.	For purpose of this Sub-Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

 

3.1.

“Fair Market Value” means, on any given date (i) if the Shares are listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the NASDAQ Global Market, the NASDAQ Global Select Market or the NASDAQ Capital Market, the closing sales price for such Shares as quoted on such exchange or system on the day of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Board deems reliable (or, if no closing sales price was reported on that date, on the last trading date such closing sales price was reported); (ii) if (i) does not apply, then if the Shares are regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Shares on the day of determination (or, if no bids and asks were reported on that date, on the last trading date such bids and asks were reported); or (iii) if (i) and (ii) do not apply, such value as the Board in its discretion may in good faith determine in accordance with Section 409A of the US Code and the regulations thereunder (and, with respect to Incentive Stock Options, in accordance with Section 422 of the US Code and the regulations thereunder).

 

3.2.

“Incentive Stock Option” means an Option or portion thereof intended to meet the requirements of an incentive stock option as defined in US Code Section 422 and designated as an Incentive Stock Option in the applicable Option Agreement, and if the Board does not designate an Option as an Incentive Stock Option in the Option Agreement, the terms of the Option Agreement for such Option hereby provide that the Option will not be treated as an Incentive Stock Option under US Code Section 422.

 

3.3.

“Non-Qualified Option” means an Option or portion thereof that does not qualify as or is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option or that is not designated as an Incentive Stock Option in the applicable Option Agreement.

 

3.4.

“Ten Percent Shareholder” means an individual who on any given date owns, either directly or indirectly (taking into account the attribution rules contained in

 

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US Code Section 424(d)), stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or a “parent” or “subsidiary” company (within the meaning of US Code Section 424).

 

3.5.

“US Code” means the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

3.6.

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

 

4.	Eligibility. An individual who is subject to US Code Section 409A will not be an Eligible Employee unless he or she is an employee of, or a director to, the Company or a Qualifying Subsidiary in which the Company has a “controlling interest” (for purposes of US Code Section 409A).

 

5.

Options. The Option Price per Share of an Option granted to a US Participant shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Share underlying the Option on the grant date. The “Date of Grant” of an Option granted to a US Participant shall be the date on which such Option was approved by the Board.

 

6.	Incentive Stock Options. The following conditions apply to awards of Incentive Stock Options in addition to or, where inconsistent, in lieu of those described in the Scheme:

 

6.1.

Eligibility. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to US Participants who are employees of the Company or any of its “parent” or “subsidiary” companies (within the meaning of US Code Section 424).

 

6.2.

Option Price. In the case of a Ten Percent Shareholder, the price at which a Share may be purchased upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of such Share on the grant date.

 

6.3.

Certain Maximum Limits. The maximum number of Shares issuable upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options at any time shall not exceed 2,750,000 Shares, subject to adjustment as provided in Rule 10 of the Scheme.

 

6.4.

Term of Options. In the case of a Ten Percent Shareholder, the term of an Incentive Stock Option shall be no greater than five years.

 

6.5.

Notice. Each US Participant awarded an Incentive Stock Option under the Scheme shall notify the Company in writing immediately after the date he or she makes a “disqualifying disposition” (as defined in US Code Section 421(b)) of any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Incentive Stock Option. The Company may, if determined by the Board and in accordance with procedures established by it, retain possession of any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option as agent for the applicable US Participant until the end of any period during which a disqualifying disposition could occur, subject to complying with any instructions from such US Participant as to the sale of such Shares.

 

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6.6.

Certain Dollar Limitations. The aggregate Fair Market Value, determined as of the grant date, for Options granted under the Scheme (or any other stock option scheme required to be taken into account under US Code Section 422(d)) that are intended to be Incentive Stock Options which are first exercisable by the US Participant during any calendar year shall not exceed $100,000. To the extent an Option purporting to be an Incentive Stock Option exceeds the limitation in the previous sentence, the portion of the Option in excess of such limit shall be a Non-Qualified Option.

 

6.7.

Limits on Transferability. Notwithstanding anything in the Scheme to the contrary, no Incentive Stock Option shall be pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated to, or in favor of, or subject to any lien, obligation, or liability of a US Participant to, any party, other than the Company or any Subsidiary, or assigned or transferred by a US Participant otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and such Incentive Stock Options and rights shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the US Participant only by the US Participant or his or her guardian or legal representative.

 

7.

Replacement Options. The provisions of Rule 8 of the Scheme regarding the granting of a Replacement Option shall apply to Options held by US Participants, provided that any such Replacement Option shall satisfy the requirements of US Code Section 409A (and to the extent applicable, US Code Section 422).

 

8.	Variation of Capital. Any adjustment under Rule 10 of the Scheme to an Option held by a US Participant shall be done in accordance with US Code Section 409A (and to the extent applicable, US Code Section 422).

 

9.

Tax Withholding. The Company and its subsidiaries shall be entitled to withhold from any payments or vesting or exercise of Options under the Scheme any amount of federal, state and local tax withholding determined by the Board to be required by law (including, without limitation, in their sole discretion, withholding Shares that otherwise would be acquired upon the exercise of an Option and/or withholding from any payroll or other amounts otherwise due to a US Participant).

 

10.

US Code Section 409A. With respect to US Participants, the Scheme, this Sub-Plan and all Options are intended to comply with, or be exempt from, US Code Section 409A and all regulations, guidance, compliance programs and other interpretative authority thereunder, and all provisions of the Scheme, this Sub-Plan and related agreements shall be applied and interpreted in a manner consistent therewith. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, in the event any Option is subject to US Code Section 409A, the Board or the Company’s general counsel may, in their sole discretion and without a US Participant’s prior consent, amend the Scheme, this Sub-Plan and/or any Option, adopt policies and procedures, or take any other actions as deemed appropriate by the Board or the Company’s general counsel to (i) exempt the Scheme, this Sub-Plan and/or any Option from the application of US Code Section 409A, (ii) preserve the intended tax treatment of any such Option or (iii) comply with the requirements of US Code Section 409A. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be held liable

 

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for any taxes, interest, penalties or other amounts owed by a US Participant under US Code Section 409A. In the event that a US Participant is a “specified employee” within the meaning of US Code Section 409A, and a payment or benefit provided for under the Scheme or this Sub-Plan would be subject to additional tax under US Code Section 409A if such payment or benefit is paid within six (6) months after such US Participant’s separation from service (within the meaning of US Code Section 409A), then such payment or benefit shall not be paid (or commence) during the six (6) month period immediately following such US Participant’s separation from service except as provided in the immediately following sentence. In such an event, any payments or benefits that would otherwise have been made or provided during such six (6) month period and which would have incurred such additional tax under US Code Section 409A instead shall be paid to the US Participant in a lump-sum, without interest, on the earlier of (i) the first business day of the seventh month following such US Participant’s separation from service or (ii) the tenth business day following such US Participant’s death. Any provision of the Scheme or this Sub-Plan that violates US Code Section 409A shall be deemed null and void with respect to any US Participant.

 

36

Exhibit 10.5

Research, Collaboration and Licence Agreement

THIS AGREEMENT is made this 21st day of August 2009

BETWEEN:

 

(1)

CARDIFF UNIVERSITY, whose administrative offices are at 30-36 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 0DE, U.K. (the “University”);

 

(2)

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CARDIFF CONSULTANTS LTD a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (company number 1477909) whose registered office is at 30-36 Newport Road, Cardiff, United Kingdom, CF24 0DE (“UC3”); and

 

(3)

NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (company number 3308778) whose registered office is at Bassett House, 5 Southwell Park Road, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 3PU (hereinafter referred to as “Nucana”),

 

together

the “Parties” and each a “Party”.

RECITALS

 

i	The University has expertise in the purification and characterisation of phosphoramidate prodrugs.

 

ii	The University has agreed to carry out the Project for Nucana upon the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement.

 

iii	Nucana has agreed to arrange for external biological evaluation of phosphoramidate protides prepared by the University in support of the Project.

 

iv	UC3 is a wholly owned company of the University which is used to hold and exploit intellectual property rights on behalf of the University.

 

v

The University and UC3 have agreed that the ownership of the results of the Project shall vest solely in Nucana and the University has agreed to grant Nucana an exclusive licence to use the Protides IP in respect of each Nucleoside Family worked on during the Project upon the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

WHEREAS the Parties hereby agree:

 

1	The Project

 

1.1

The University shall carry out the Project and provide the deliverables set out in Schedule 1 during the Project Period.

 

1.2

Nucana will arrange at its own cost for external biological evaluation of phosphoramidate protides prepared by the University and will share the results generated with the University as soon as is reasonably practicable. The University will be entitled to use such results for the sole purpose of carrying out the Project. The University will treat such results as Information provided to it by Nucana and keep such results confidential in accordance with Clause 6.

 

1.3

The Project shall be undertaken by

 

1.3.1

[***] engaged [***] from [***]; and

 

1.3.2

[***] engaged [***]

under the direction and supervision of the Principal Investigator. If at any time during the Project Period the Principal Investigator is unable or unwilling to continue supervising the Project the University in consultation with Nucana shall endeavour to appoint a successor as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter. If an appropriate successor acceptable to both the University and Nucana cannot be found within [***], Nucana may terminate this Agreement upon giving the other Parties [***] written notice.

 

1.4

The Project may be extended beyond the Initial Project Period for a further period or periods by the written agreement of the Parties as to the scope of any additional work and/or research funding and exclusivity payments, it being acknowledged that such payments will not differ significantly from the Exclusivity Payments set out in this Agreement.

 

2	Funding by Nucana

 

2.1

The University shall carry out the Project in consideration of payment by Nucana of the Project Fees being:

 

2.1.1

£[***] in respect of the [***] on the Effective Date;

 

2.1.2

£[***] in respect of the [***] on the Effective Date, such payment to cover the period of [***] from [***]; and

 

2.1.3

[***] after the Effective Date - £[***] in respect of the [***].

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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The University will charge VAT in addition where appropriate.

 

2.2

Nucana will reimburse the University from time to time [***] on receipt of an appropriate invoice for the consumables actually used by the [***] and/or the [***] in the course of performing the Project up to a maximum of [***] pounds (£[***]) per annum in aggregate for both [***] and up to a maximum of [***] (£[***]) per annum (pro rated as applicable) for the [***].

 

2.3

The [***] may be engaged for a further period of [***] following the initial period referred to in Clause 2.1.2 subject to agreement between the Parties.

 

2.4

If Nucana fails to make any payment due pursuant to Clauses 2, 5.2, 8.5, or 9, by the date for payment of the same, without prejudice to any other right or remedy available to the University or UC3, the University or UC3 may charge interest (both before and after any judgment) on the amount outstanding, at the interest rate in force pursuant to the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998. That interest will be calculated from the date or last date for payment to the actual date of payment, both dates inclusive, and will be compounded quarterly. Nucana will pay that interest to the University or UC3 on demand.

 

3	University and Student Responsibilities

 

3.1

The University will carry out the Project in accordance with Nucana’s reasonable instructions and shall use all reasonable skill and care in the performance of the Project.

 

3.2

The University will provide Nucana with regular written reports summarising the progress of work under the Project and the Results, and shall provide Nucana with a final report containing all of the Results reasonably promptly following completion of the Project. The University shall use all reasonable endeavours to answer reasonably promptly all reasonable queries received from Nucana regarding the performance of the Project and the Results.

 

4	Warranties and Limitations and Exclusions of Liability

 

4.1

The University does not undertake that work carried out under or pursuant to this Agreement will lead to any particular result and Nucana acknowledges and understands that the success of the Project is not guaranteed.

 

4.2

The University does not accept any responsibility for any use which may be made of any work carried out under or pursuant to this Agreement, or of the Results, nor for any reliance which may be placed on such work or the Results, nor for advice or information given in connection with them.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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4.3

Nucana acknowledges that, in entering into this Agreement, it does not do so in reliance on any representation or warranty given by the University, UC3, their employees or officers and any conditions, warranties or other terms implied by statue or common law are excluded from this Agreement to the fullest extent permitted by law. Accordingly, Nucana acknowledges and accepts that, other than as set out in Clause 4.4, neither the University or UC3 make any warranties or representations whether express or implied regarding the Results and/or the Intellectual Property in the Results and no warranty nor representation is given that:

 

4.3.1

the Results and/or the Intellectual Property in the Results and/or use of the same will not infringe the rights of any person;

 

4.3.2

the Project will be successful or that any particular result or objective shall be achieved, be achievable or be attained at all or by expiry of the Project Period or by any other date.

 

4.4

The University and UC3 each hereby warrants to Nucana that:

 

4.4.1

no third parties have been granted any rights to use the Protides IP in connection with any compounds comprised within the Nucleoside Families (with the exception of [***] under the Research Agreement);

 

4.4.2

all necessary steps have been taken to ensure that UC3 will own all rights in the Results and the Foreground Intellectual Property, including but not limited to any Results and Foreground Intellectual Property generated by the [***] and any other persons engaged by the University to perform the Project, so as to enable UC3 to assign ownership of the Results and the Foreground Intellectual Property to Nucana pursuant to Clause 8.3;

 

4.4.3

UC3 has the right to grant the exclusive licence to Nucana to use the Protides IP as set out in Clauses 8.4 to 8.7 (inclusive); and

 

4.4.4

prior to the date of execution of this Agreement, the University has entered into a written agreement with [***] under which [***] has agreed to assign (on the University’s request and without any additional consideration) to the University all of their property, rights, title and interest (if any) in and to the Results and the Foreground Intellectual Property.

 

4.5

Nucana undertakes to make no claim against the Principal Investigator or any other employee, student, agent or appointee of the University, being a claim which seeks to enforce against any of them any liability whatsoever in connection with this Agreement or its subject matter.

 

4.6

In no event shall any Party be liable to the other Parties under or in connection with this Agreement for:

 

4.6.1

loss of contracts, loss of goodwill, loss of opportunity, loss of profits, loss of turnover or loss of anticipated savings but only to the extent such losses are not direct losses; or

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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4.6.2

any indirect or consequential loss or special loss or damage of any nature whatsoever.

 

4.7

Save in respect of [***], the maximum liability of the University or UC3 to Nucana under or otherwise in connection with this Agreement or its subject matter shall be [***].

 

4.8

If any provision of this Clause 4 is held to be invalid or unenforceable under any applicable statute or rule of law then it shall be deemed to be omitted, and if as a result any Party becomes liable for loss or damage which would otherwise have been excluded then such liability shall be subject to the remaining provisions of this Clause 4.

 

5	Exclusivity

 

5.1

In consideration of payment of the Exclusivity Payments and subject to Clause 5.3 the University and UC3 each agrees that it will not:

 

5.1.1

during the Project Period:

 

(a)

undertake any [***] research on compounds comprised within the Nucleoside Families with or for [***] where such research would require utilisation of the Protides IP; and/or

 

(b)

grant to any third party any licence or right to use, or any option to obtain a licence or right to use, the Protides IP in connection with any of the Nucleoside Families or compounds comprised within the Nucleoside Families for any purpose whatsoever;

 

5.1.2

during the Extended Licence Period or Further Licence Period:

 

(a)

undertake with or for any third party any industrially sponsored research on those Compounds in respect of which a licence is granted during such Extended Licence Period or (as the case may be) Further Extended Licence Period ( the “Exclusive Compounds”) or on any compounds within such Exclusive Compounds’ Nucleoside Families (“Related Compounds”) where such research would require utilisation of the Protides IP; and/or

 

(b)

grant to any third party any licence or right to use, or any option to obtain a licence or right to use, the Protides IP in connection with any of the Exclusive Compounds or Related Compounds for any purpose whatsoever.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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For the avoidance of doubt, Nucana agrees that the [***] project entitled [***] carried out at the University does not and will not constitute a breach of this Clause 5.1.

 

5.2

Nucana will pay the following sums to UC3:

£[***] on the Effective Date; and

£[***] after the Effective Date.

UC3 will charge VAT in addition where appropriate.

 

5.3

Nucana acknowledges and accepts that where the University is obliged to carry out research or development in respect of any of the Nucleoside Families under the Research Agreement, such research or development shall not constitute a breach of the obligations set out in Clause 5.1. Nucana further acknowledges and accepts that the University cannot guarantee that the Nucleoside Families will not be covered by the claims contained in any patents granted pursuant to the patent applications assigned to [***] under the Assignment Deed.

 

6	Confidentiality

 

6.1

The University undertakes not to use or disclose to any third party any Information which is disclosed by Nucana to the University for use in the Project or any Results generated during the Project (“Confidential Information”) save that the University may disclose all and any Confidential Information to employees, students, officers and consultants of the University who need to know the same in connection with the performance of this Agreement or to advisers of the University who are providing advice in connection with this Agreement provided that all such personnel are bound by appropriate written terms of confidentiality equivalent to those contained in this Clause 6.

 

6.2

The obligation of non-disclosure set out in Clause 6.1 shall not apply with respect to information which the Receiving Party can show:

 

(a)

is known to the Receiving Party before the Effective Date, and not impressed already with any obligation by the Disclosing Party; or

 

(b)

is or becomes publicly known without fault on the part of the Receiving Party; or

 

(c)

is obtained by the Receiving Party from a third party in circumstances where they have no reason to believe that there has been a breach of an obligation of confidentiality owed to the Disclosing Party; or

 

(d)

the Receiving Party develops independently; or

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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(e)

is approved for release in writing by an authorised representative of the Disclosing Party; or

 

(f)

the Receiving Party is specifically required to disclose pursuant to an order of any Court of competent jurisdiction in order to fulfil the Court Order or in order to comply with any other legislation. Before making such a disclosure the Receiving Party shall inform the Disclosing Party of the requirement to make such disclosure.

 

7	Publications

 

7.1

Nucana recognises that under University policy, the Results must be publishable and agrees that, subject to Clause 7.2, the University shall be permitted to present at symposia, national or regional professional meetings, and to publish in journals or otherwise of their own choosing, methods and results of the Project and accordingly Nucana hereby grants or agrees to grant to the University a licence to use the Intellectual Property in the Results for such purposes.

 

7.2

Subject to the provisions of Clause 7.3, the University agrees to provide Nucana with a copy of any proposed publication at least [***] prior to submission for publication. Nucana may object to publication by providing notice to the University on the basis that:

 

7.2.1

the publication contains Confidential Information; or

 

7.2.2

the publication contains Intellectual Property belonging to Nucana

PROVIDED THAT if the University has not received notice from Nucana objecting to the publication within [***] of Nucana receiving a copy of the proposed publication Nucana shall be deemed to have agreed to the publication and the University may proceed with the publication.

If Nucana objects to the proposed publication:

 

(a)

on the basis the publication contains Confidential Information and/ or Intellectual Property belonging to Nucana other than the Foreground Intellectual Property, Nucana shall identify such Confidential Information and/ or Intellectual Property and the University shall remove such Confidential Information and/ or Intellectual Property from the publication;

 

(b)

on the basis that the publication contains Foreground Intellectual Property, the University shall delay publication for a period of [***] from the date of receipt of the proposed publication by Nucana in order that Nucana may file patent applications to protect such Foreground Intellectual Property.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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(c)

If Nucana considers that there are exceptional circumstances requiring a longer delay in respect of any proposed publication to permit Nucana to file patent applications to protect the Foreground Intellectual Property and that view is supported by Nucana’s patent agents, Nucana may request that the University delays such publication for up to [***] from the date of receipt of the proposed publication by Nucana and the University shall be bound to agree to such request provided that Nucana provides the University with details of the exceptional circumstances necessitating such a delay and the supporting advice from the patent agents.

It is further agreed by the University that, at Nucana’s request, an acknowledgement to Nucana be included in any written publication produced by the University in recognition of Nucana’s involvement in the Project.

 

7.3

Notwithstanding the provisions of Clauses 7.1 and 7.2, nothing contained in this Agreement shall prevent or hinder any student employed by the University in connection with the Project from submitting a thesis incorporating or using the Foreground Intellectual Property or the Results, the examination of such a thesis by examiners appointed by the University or the deposit of such a thesis in a University library in accordance with the University’s procedures provided always that:

 

7.3.1

the University shall obtain the prior written consent of Nucana, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed;

 

7.3.2

the University shall ensure that the examiners appointed by the University shall be bound by written obligations of confidentiality no less onerous than those at Clause 6;

 

7.3.3

the University shall ensure that the student theses are stored in a University library with restricted access for [***] from submission or such longer period (but subject to a maximum of [***]) as Nucana may reasonably request provided that the University is able to allow such extended period of restricted access taking into account University policy and the relevant student thesis on a case by case basis.

 

8	Intellectual Property and use of the Results

 

8.1

Each Party shall retain ownership in and to its Background IP. Except as otherwise stated, this Agreement shall not grant or be construed as granting any rights by license or otherwise to the other Parties in or to another Party’s Background IP.

 

8.2

Each Party hereby grants the other Parties a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to use its Background IP that it introduces into the Project for the purposes of completion of the Project only and, except as set out elsewhere in this Agreement, no other rights or licences are granted in respect of such Background IP.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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8.3

The University and/or UC3 each hereby undertakes that all Intellectual Property in and to the Results shall belong to and vest in Nucana, and the University and UC3 each hereby:

 

8.3.1

assigns to Nucana all of their right, title and interest in and to any copyrights, database rights and UK unregistered design rights in and to the Results to the intent and with the effect that all such rights shall vest in Nucana on the date such rights are developed by the University;

 

8.3.2

assigns to Nucana all their right, title and interest in and to all other Intellectual Property in and to the Results; and

 

8.3.3

undertakes to execute or procure the execution of any additional documents or do or procure any other acts or things which may be necessary from to time to vest in Nucana legal and beneficial ownership of the Results and the Foreground Intellectual Property.

 

8.4

The University and UC3 hereby grant to Nucana, and Nucana hereby accepts, an exclusive royalty-free worldwide licence (with the right to grant sub-licences to third parties) during the Project Period to use the Protides IP in respect of the Compounds and all compounds comprised within their respective Nucleoside Families (e.g. if the University has carried out work on [***] as part of the Project then the foregoing licence will cover all [***]) for all purposes, including but not limited to researching and developing pharmaceutical products for all and any therapeutic, diagnostic, prognostic and prophylactic indications and thereafter the manufacture, marketing, distribution and sale of such pharmaceutical products.

 

8.5

Upon request by Nucana to the University and UC3 prior to expiry of the Project Period, the licence granted pursuant to Clause 8.4 shall be deemed to have been extended for a further period of [***] from expiry of the Project Period (the “Extended Licence Period”) in respect of those Compounds upon which Evaluation Testing either has been undertaken during the Project Period, is continuing at expiry of the Project Period or is to be undertaken following expiry of the Project Period and all compounds within their respective Nucleoside Families, subject to Nucana notifying the University and UC3 at the time of such request of the Compounds in respect of which Evaluation Testing is continuing or is to be undertaken.

 

8.6

Upon request by Nucana to the University and UC3 prior to expiry of the Extended Licence Period, the licence referred to in Clause 8.5 above shall be deemed to have been extended for such further [***] periods (each a “Further Extended Licence Period” and together the “Further Extended Licence Periods”) as Nucana may request in respect of those Compounds upon which Evaluation Testing is ongoing at such date for the purposes of finalising Evaluation Testing on such Compounds, subject to;

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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8.6.1

the sum of £[***] ([***] pounds) becoming due and payable by Nucana to the UC3 on the first day of each and every Further Extended Licence Period; and

 

8.6.2

Nucana notifying the University and UC3 at the time of such request of the Compounds upon which Evaluation Testing is ongoing at such date.

UC3 will charge VAT in addition where appropriate.

 

8.7

Once Nucana has completed its Evaluation Testing on the Compounds, it shall notify the University and UC3 of such completion and of those Compounds which, following such Evaluation Testing, are reasonably deemed by Nucana to be suitable for commercialisation (the “Selected Compounds”). The University and UC3 hereby grants to Nucana, and Nucana hereby accepts, an exclusive royalty-free worldwide licence (with the right to grant sub-licences to third parties) (terminable only in the circumstances set out in Clause 8.9) to use the Protides IP in respect of the Selected Compounds and all compounds comprised within their respective Nucleoside Families (i.e. if a [***] is one of the Selected Compounds, then the foregoing licence will cover all [***]) for all purposes, including but not limited to researching and developing pharmaceutical products for all and any therapeutic, diagnostic, prognostic and prophylactic indications and thereafter the manufacture, marketing, distribution and sale of such pharmaceutical products.

 

8.8

The University and UC3 each hereby agrees not (except as expressly permitted under other provisions of this Agreement) at any time whilst the licences granted pursuant to:

 

8.8.1

Clauses 8.4 or 8.5 remain in force, to use, or to grant to any person or entity a licence or other right to use the Protides IP with any of the Compounds/ or and any of the compounds comprised within their respective Nucleoside Families covered by such licences or to conduct research on such Compounds and/ or any compounds comprised within their respective Nucleoside Families on behalf of or in collaboration with any third party, for any purpose whatsoever;

 

8.8.2

Clauses 8.6 or 8.7 remain in force, to use, or to grant to any person or entity a licence or other right to use the Protides IP with any of the Compounds covered by such licences and/ or any compounds comprised within their respective Nucleoside Families or to conduct research on such Compounds and/or any compounds comprised within their respective Nucleoside Families on behalf of or in collaboration with any third party, for any purpose.

 

8.9

All the licences granted to Nucana pursuant to Clauses 8.4, 8.5 and 8.6 and 8.7:

 

8.9.1

may be terminated by UC3:

 

(a)

[***] by serving written notice upon Nucana in the event of Nucana’s Insolvency;

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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(b)

by giving [***] written notice to Nucana in the event of a material breach of any such licence including, but not limited to, failure to make the payments due under Clause 8.6, which if capable of remedy by Nucana is not remedied within the [***] notice period;

 

(c)

if Nucana fails to pay any of the payments payable pursuant to Clause 9 within [***] of the due date for payment thereof;

 

8.9.2

shall [***] terminate upon termination of this Agreement pursuant to the provisions of Clause 11.2.

 

8.10

Nucana shall promptly notify the University at the end of the Extended Licence Period or Further Extended Licence Periods as applicable of the Compounds (if any) which it no longer requires a licence for and the restrictions upon the University and UC3 at Clause 8.8 shall cease to apply in respect of those Compounds (if any). For the avoidance of doubt the restrictions at Clause 8.8 shall cease to apply if the licences granted pursuant to Clauses 8.4, 8.5, 8.6 and/or 8.7 are terminated pursuant to Clause 8.9.

 

8.11

Nucana hereby grants or agrees to grant to the University a royalty-free licence to use any Intellectual Property in and to the Results for the University’s own internal non-commercially funded research and academic and teaching purposes, provided that such purposes do not cause the University to be in breach of any other term of this Agreement including its obligation of confidentiality set out in Clause 6.

 

8.12

Nucana shall indemnify and hold harmless the University, UC3, their employees and agents, from and against any claim, loss, damage or expense relating to Nucana’s use and/or uses of any and all Results, the Intellectual Property in the Results and/or any other advice or information supplied to Nucana pursuant to this Agreement but excluding any such claim, loss, damage or expense to the extent that it arises as a result of any breach by the University or UC3 or their employees and agents of the terms of this Agreement or any negligence on the part of the University or UC3 or their employees and agents. The University and/ or UC3 (as the case shall be) shall provide Nucana with written notice of any such claim or liability as soon as possible and in any event within [***] of receiving notice of any such claim or liability. Nucana shall be solely responsible for the investigation, defence, settlement and discharge of such claim or liability and the University and/or UC3 shall provide Nucana with all assistance reasonably requested by Nucana in connection with the investigation, defence, settlement and discharge of such claim or liability.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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9	Milestone and Royalty Payments

 

9.1

Nucana agrees to make milestone payments to UC3 as set forth in Schedule 2. Each milestone payment is owed whether the milestone is achieved by Nucana, an Affiliate, Licensee or Assignee. Nucana shall inform UC3 within [***] of the event and the payment shall be made within [***] of the notice of each event being served to UC3. If the milestone is achieved by a Licensee or Assignee, Nucana shall inform UC3 within [***] of Nucana’s knowledge of the event and payment shall be made within [***] of notice of each event being served to UC3.

 

9.2

Nucana will pay to UC3 a royalty of [***] percent ([***]%) of Net Sales of Nucana or any of its Affiliates.

 

9.3

Nucana will pay to UC3 a royalty of [***] percent ([***]%) of all Other Income received by Nucana or any of its Affiliates from the exploitation of the Results and/or Foreground Intellectual Property.

 

9.4

[***]

 

9.5

Within [***] of the end of the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on [***] and each subsequent period of [***] commencing on [***] (each a “Royalty Period”), Nucana shall submit to UC3 a written statement detailing:

 

(a)

the total Net Sales (if any) of Nucana and all its Affiliates during such    Royalty Period;

 

(b)

the total royalties payable pursuant to the provisions of clause 9.2 above in respect of such Net Sales;

 

(c)

the total Other Income (if any) received by Nucana and all its Affiliates during such Royalty Period from the exploitation of the Results and/or Foreground Intellectual Property; and

 

(d)

the total royalties payable pursuant to the provisions of Clause 9.3 above in respect of such Other Income

together with payment of the total amount of royalties (if any) shown on such statement.

 

9.6

All sums payable under this Agreement are exclusive of value added tax which shall, if applicable, be payable in addition at the rate in force from time to time.

 

9.7

Nucana shall and shall procure that each of its Affiliates shall keep true and accurate records and books of account of:

 

(a)

all sales by Nucana or (as the case may be) the relevant Affiliate of Products; and

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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(b)

all proceeds received by Nucana or (as the case may be) the relevant Affiliate from;

(i) Licensees in connection with a licence or sub-licence of the Results or Foreground Intellectual Property, including but not limited to signing or upfront fees, annual licence maintenance fees, royalties on sales and annual minimum royalty payments; and/or

(ii) Assignees in connection with assignation of the Results and/or Foreground Intellectual Property

(the “Records”), and Nucana shall and shall procure that each of its Affiliates shall, upon request by UC3 and during normal business hours, permit a chartered accountant appointed by UC3 to inspect such Records for the purpose of enabling UC3 to verify the accuracy of the statements provided pursuant to Clause 9.5. UC3 shall procure that such accountant enters into a confidentiality agreement with Nucana in terms of which he/ she agrees to keep confidential all information obtained from such inspection and to disclose such information solely to UC3. All fees, expenses and other payments payable to such chartered accountant in connection with any such inspection shall be borne by UC3 unless such inspection reveals an underpayment of royalties in respect of any Royalty Period of at least [***] percent ([***]%) in which case such costs shall be borne by Nucana and, if such costs have already been incurred by UC3, Nucana shall (subject to UC3 providing receipts or other proof that such costs have been incurred) reimburse such costs to UC3 immediately upon demand.

 

10	Force majeure

If the performance by any Party of any of its obligations under this Agreement (other than an obligation to make payment) shall be prevented by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, then the that Party shall (provided it has notified the other Parties of the relevant circumstances) be excused from performance of that obligation for the duration of the relevant event.

 

11	Term and Termination

 

11.1

This Agreement shall be deemed to have commenced on the Effective Date and shall continue in full force and effect until expiry of the Project Period unless terminated earlier pursuant to the provisions of Clause 11.2.

 

11.2

This Agreement may be terminated by any Party for any material breach of the obligations set out in this Agreement by any of the other Parties, by giving [***] written notice to the other Parties of its intention to terminate. The notice shall include a detailed statement describing the nature of the breach. If the breach is capable of being remedied and is remedied within the [***] notice period, then the termination shall not take effect.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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If the breach is not remedied within the [***] notice period, then the termination shall take effect at the end of the [***] notice period. Failure to make the payments set out in Clauses 2.1, 5.2, 8.6 or 9 within [***] following the due date for such payment shall constitute a material breach for the purposes of this Clause 11.2.

 

11.3

Upon expiry or termination of this Agreement all rights and obligations of the Parties shall, subject to the provisions of Clause 11.4, immediately cease without prejudice to any rights of action then accrued hereunder or at law.

 

11.4

Unless stated otherwise in this Agreement:

 

11.4.1

the following provisions shall survive expiry (but not termination of this Agreement pursuant to Clause 11.2): Clauses 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 3.2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.3, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and this Clause 11.4;

 

11.4.2

the following provisions shall survive termination of this Agreement pursuant to Clause 11.2: Clauses 2.1 and 2.2 (but only in relation to any outstanding payments due as at the date of termination),2.4, 3.2, 4, 5.2 (but only in relation to any outstanding payments due as at the date of termination), 6, 7, 8.3, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and this Clause 11.4.

 

12

Publicity

No Party shall use the name of either of the others in any press release or product advertising, or for any other commercial purpose, without that other Party’s prior written consent; provided, however, that publication of the sums received from Nucana in the University’s annual report and similar publications shall not be regarded as a breach of this Clause 12.

 

13	Assignment

No Party shall assign any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of each of the other Parties.

 

14

Notices

 

14.3

The University’s representative for the purpose of receiving payments shall until further notice be:

[***]

 

14.4

The University’s representative for the purpose of receiving reports shall until further notice be:

[***]

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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14.5

The University’s representative for the purpose of receiving all other notices shall until further notice be:

[***]

 

14.6

UC3’s representative for the purpose of receiving all notices shall until further notice be:

[***]

 

14.7

Nucana’s representative for the purpose of receiving invoices, reports and other notices shall until further notice be:

Hugh S Griffith, Chief Executive Officer, Nucana Biomed Limited, 10 Lochside Place, Edinburgh Park, Edinburgh, EH12 9RG.

 

15

General

 

15.1

Nothing in this Agreement shall create, imply or evidence any partnership or joint venture between the Parties or the relationship between any of them of either principal and agent or employer and employee.

 

15.2

This Agreement, and its Schedules (which are incorporated into and made a part of this Agreement), together constitute the entire agreement between the Parties for the Project. Any variation shall be in writing and signed by all Parties or by their authorised signatories.

 

15.3

This Agreement shall be governed by English and Welsh law. The English and Welsh courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction to deal with any dispute which has arisen or may arise out of or in connection with this Agreement.

 

15.4

Headings are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement; and references to Clauses are to clauses of this Agreement.

 

16	Third parties

The Parties do not intend that the terms of this Agreement create any right enforceable by any person who is not a party to it (‘Third Party’) under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 (the “Act”).

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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17	Definitions

In this Agreement the following words shall have the following meanings unless the context otherwise requires:

 

“Affiliate”		means any corporation or non-corporate entity that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with a party to this agreement. A corporation or non-corporate entity is to be regarded as in control of a corporation if it owns, or directly or indirectly controls, at least fifty percent (50%) of the voting stock of the other corporation, or (i) in the absence of the ownership of at least fifty percent (50%) of the voting stock of a corporation or (ii) in the case of a non-corporate business entity, or non-profit corporation, if it possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such corporation or non-corporate entity, as applicable;
“Assignee”		means any person or entity obtaining an assignment of the Foreground Intellectual Property or part thereof from NuCana or from any Affiliate of Nucana other than an Affiliate of Nucana;
“Assignment Deed”		means the Deed between UC3 and [***] (thereafter acquired by [***]) dated [***];
“Background IP”		means any Intellectual Property owned or controlled by any Party at the date of this Agreement together with any and all rights therein or which shall at any time thereafter become so owned or controlled and in the case of the University includes the Protides IP;

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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“Confidential Information”		shall have the meaning set out in Clause 6.1;
“Compounds”		means the compounds comprised within each Nucleoside Family which the University has been requested to conduct work on by Nucana as part of the Project;
“Disclosing Party”		means a Party to this Agreement that discloses Confidential Information to one or both of the other Parties;
“Effective Date”		means 21 August 2009;
“Evaluation Testing”		means testing such as [***];
“Exclusivity Payments”		means the payments detailed in Clause 5.2 and Clause 8.6 above;
“Extended Licence Period”		means the period referred to in Clause 8.5 above;
“Foreground Intellectual Property”		means any Intellectual Property arising from the Project;
“Further Extended Licence Period”		means the period referred to in Clause 8.6 above;
“Information”		means specifications, drawings, circuit diagrams, tapes, discs and other computer-readable media, documents, information, techniques and know-how;
“Initial Project Period”		means the period of [***] commencing on the Effective Date;
“Intellectual Property”		means all and any rights in or to [***]; and all similar or equivalent rights arising or subsisting in any part of the world;

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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“Insolvency”		(i)          a petition is presented, a resolution is passed or an order is made for the winding up or dissolution of a party;   (ii)        an application, petition or order is made for any of the following to be appointed over a party or any of its assets, or such an appointment is made: receiver, administrative receiver, receiver and manager, administrator or sequestrator;   (iii)       a party enters into, or there is proposed, a compromise or arrangement or voluntary arrangement, or a scheme or composition in satisfaction or composition of its debts with all or any of the creditors or members of a party or steps are taken to obtain a moratorium;   (iv)       any creditor takes possession of, or levies distress, enforcement or some other process upon, all or any of a party’s assets or undertaking;   (v)         a party is deemed unable to pay its debts, or is unable, or admits its inability, to pay its debts as they fall due; or   (vi)       a party ceases to carry on the whole or a substantial part of its business;   and the term “Insolvent” shall be construed accordingly;
“Licensee”		means any person or entity (other than an Affiliate of Nucana) entering into a license with Nucana or a sublicense with an Affiliate of Nucana of the Results or Foreground Intellectual Property or part thereof;

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

“Net Sales”		means the gross proceeds received by Nucana or its Affiliates from the sale of Products by NuCana or its Affiliates after deduction of costs relating to [***];
“Nucleoside Families”		means those nucleoside families as set out in Schedule 1 and Nucleoside Family shall be construed accordingly;
“Other Income”		means the gross proceeds received by Nucana or its Affiliates:(i) from Licensees in connection with a licence or sub-licence of the Results or Foreground Intellectual Property, including but not limited to [***]; and/or   (ii) from Assignees in connection with assignation of the Results or Foreground Intellectual Property;
“[***]”		means a [***] engaged by the University on the Project pursuant to Clause 1.3.2 above;

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

“Product”		means any pharmaceutical products developed, manufactured, marketed, distributed and/or sold by Nucana or its Affiliates which incorporate a compound which is comprised within the Results;
“Project”		shall have the meaning set out in Schedule 1;
“Project Period”		the Initial Project Period and any extension or extensions thereto agreed by the Parties pursuant to Clause 1.4;
“Project Fee”		means the fees set out at Clause 2.1 above;
“ProTides Agreement”		means the licence and collaboration agreement to be entered into between Nucana and [***];
“Protides IP”		means the Intellectual Property owned or controlled by the University at the date of this Agreement relating to [***] nucleoside phosphoramidate prodrugs and any and all rights therein or which shall any time thereafter become so owned or controlled;
“Principal Investigator”		means [***] or such successor as may be appointed;
“Receiving Party”		means a Party to this Agreement that receives Confidential Information from one or both of the other Parties;
“Results”		means the results generated by the Principal Investigator, [***],[***] and/or any other persons engaged on the Project arising from the research conducted by the Principal Investigator, the [***] and/or any other persons in performing the Project;

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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“Research Agreement”		means the terms of agreement between the University and [***] for the conduct of research by the University relating to the discovery and development of new anti cancer nucleosides and nucleotides; and
“[***]”		means the [***] employed by the University on the Project pursuant to Clause 1.3.1.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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AGREED by the Parties through their authorised signatories:

 

For and on behalf of CARDIFF UNIVERSITY		For and on behalf of NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED
/s/ [***]		/s/ Hugh S Griffith
signed		Signed
[***]		Hugh S Griffith
print name
Deputy Director and Head of Research Policy and Management		Chief Executive Officer
Research and Commercial Division Cardiff University
title
		21 August 2009
date
For and on behalf of UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CARDIFF CONSULTANTS LTD
signed /s/ [***]
print name [***]
title Director
date

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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SCHEDULE ONE

[***]

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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SCHEDULE TWO

[***]

The University or UC3 as applicable will charge VAT in addition where appropriate.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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Amendment No. 1

Amendment to Main Agreement (“Amendment”), effective as of the last signature date below, is made:

BETWEEN:

 

(1)

CARDIFF UNIVERSITY, whose administrative offices are at 30-36 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 ODE, U.K. established under royal charter, registered charity number 1136855 (the “University”);

 

(2)

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CARDIFF CONSULTANTS LTD a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (company number 1477909) whose registered office is at 30-36 Newport Road, Cardiff, United Kingdom, CF24 ODE (“UC3”); and

 

(3)

NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (company number 3308778) whose registered office is at Bassett House, 5 Southwell Park Road, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 3PU (hereinafter referred to as “Nucana”),

together the “Parties” and each a “Party”.

RECITAL:

The parties entered into a contract dated 21 August 2009 for a research project (the “Main Agreement”). The parties wish to amend the Main Agreement as set forth in this amendment.

IT IS AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

 

1.	Status and Purpose of this Amendment

This Amendment is supplemental to the Main Agreement. Except as expressly set fourth in this Amendment, the Main Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. Certain terms defined in the Main Agreement shall have the same meaning in this Amendment unless otherwise provided in this Amendment.

 

2.	Amendments to the Main Agreement

 

2.1	In consideration of the payment of [***] (£[***]) by Nucana to each other parties (receipt of which is hereby acknowledged by the University and UC3) the Parties agree that with effect from the date of this Amendment, the terms of the Main Agreement shall be amended as follows:

 

2.2	The definition of Net Sales shall be deleted in its entirety and the following substituted in place thereof:

 

“Net Sales”		means the gross proceeds received by Nucana or its Affiliates from the sale of Products by Nucana or its Affiliates after deduction of costs relating to [***];”

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

2.	Limitation Period

The parties acknowledge and agree that the provisions of this Amendment are not intended to and shall not affect the relevant limitation periods (as set out in the Limitation Act 1980) applicable to the Main Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed by their authorized officers or representatives on the date indicated below.

 

Signed on behalf of
Cardiff University /s/ [***]		Date 30th September, 2010
Signed on behalf of
University College Cardiff University
Consultants Ltd /s/ [***]		Date 29th September 2010
Signed on behalf of		Date: 28th September 2010
Nucana Biomed Ltd /s/ H. Griffith

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

Amendment No. 2

Amendment No. 2 effective as of the last signature date below, is made:

BETWEEN:

 

(1)

CARDIFF UNIVERSITY, whose administrative offices are at 30-36 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 ODE, U.K established under royal charter, registered charity number 1136855 (the “University”);

 

(2)

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CARDIFF CONSULTANTS LTD a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (company number 1477909) whose registered office is at 30-36 Newport Road, Cardiff, United Kingdom, CF24 ODE (“UC3”); and

 

(3)

NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (company number 3308778) whose registered office is at Bassett House, 5 Southwell Park Road, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 3PU (hereinafter referred to as “Nucana”),

together the “Parties” and each a “Party”.

RECITAL:

The parties entered into a contract dated 21 August 2009 for a research project as amended on 30 September 2010 (the “Main Agreement”). The parties wish to amend the Main Agreement as set forth in this amendment.

The parties may agree to further extend or amend the Main Agreement and any such extensions or amendments shall be in writing.

IT IS AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

 

1.	Status and Purpose of this Amendment

This Amendment is supplemental to the Main Agreement. Except as expressly set forth in this amendment, the Main Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. Certain terms defined in the Main Agreement shall have the same meaning in this amendment unless otherwise provided in this Amendment.

 

2.	Amendments to the Main Agreement

 

2.1	Pursuant to clause 1.4 of the main agreement the Parties agree that with effect from the date of this Amendment, the terms of the Main Agreement shall be amended as follows:

 

2.2	Clause 1.3 shall be amended by the addition of a new clause 1.3.3

“1.3.3 [***] engaged [***] for an additional term of [***] from [***].”

 

2.3	Clause 2.1 shall be amended by the addition of a new clause 2.1.4:

“2.1.4 £[***] on each of the following dates: [***]”

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

2.4	Clause 5.2 shall be deleted and replaced by the following:

“5.2 Nucana will pay the following sums to UC3:

£[***],

£[***],

£[***], and

£[***].

UC3 will charge VAT in addition where appropriate.”

 

2.5	Clause 8.6 shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

 

8.6

Upon request by Nucana to the University and UC3 prior to expiry of the Extended Licence Period, the licence referred to in Clause 8.5 above shall be deemed to have been extended for one further [***] period (the “Further Extended Licence Period”) if Nucana so requests in respect of those Compounds upon which Evaluation Testing is ongoing at such date for the purposes of finalising Evaluation Testing on such Compounds, subject to;

 

8.6.1

the sum of £[***] ([***]) becoming due and payable by Nucana to the UC3 on the first day of the Further Extended Licence Period; and

 

8.6.2

Nucana notifying the University and UC3 at the time of such request of the Compounds upon which Evaluation Testing is ongoing at such date.

UC3 will charge VAT in addition where appropriate.

 

3.	Limitation Period

The parties acknowledge and agree that the provisions of this Amendment are not intended to and shall not affect the relevant limitation periods (as set out in the Limitation Act 1980) applicable to the Main Agreement.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed by their authorized officers or representatives on the date indicated below.

 

Signed on behalf of
Cardiff University /s/ [***]		Date 25th July, 2011
Signed on behalf of
University College Cardiff University
Consultants Ltd /s/ [***]		Date 22nd July 2011
Signed on behalf of		Date: 19th July 2011
Nucana Biomed Ltd /s/ Christopher Wood

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

Amendment No. 3

Amendment No. 3, effective as of the last signature date below, is made: BETWEEN:

 

(1)

CARDIFF UNIVERSITY, whose administrative offices are at 30-36 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 ODE, U.K. established under royal charter, registered charity number 1136855 (the “University”);

 

(2)

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CARDIFF CONSULTANTS LTD a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (company number 1477909) whose registered office is at 30-36 Newport Road, Cardiff, United Kingdom, CF24 ODE (“UC3”); and

 

(3)

NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (company number 3308778) whose registered office is at Bassett House, 5 Southwell Park Road, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 3PU (“Nucana”),

together the “Parties” and each a “Party”.

RECITAL:

The Parties entered into a Research, Collaboration and Licence Agreement dated 21 August 2009 for a research project, as amended and supplemented by Amendment No. 1 between the Parties with an effective date of 30 September 2010 and Amendment No. 2 between the Parties with an effective date of 25 July 2011 (the “Main Agreement”). The Parties wish to amend the Main Agreement as set forth in this Amendment.

The Parties may agree to further extend or amend the Main Agreement and any such extensions or amendments shall be in writing.

IT IS AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

 

1.	Status and Purpose of this Amendment

This Amendment is supplemental to the Main Agreement. Except as expressly set forth in this Amendment, the Main Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. Certain terms defined in the Main Agreement shall have the same meaning in this Amendment unless otherwise provided in this Amendment.

 

2.	Amendments to the Main Agreement

In consideration of the payment of [***] (£[***]) by Nucana to each of the other Parties (receipt of which is hereby acknowledged by the University and UC3), the Parties agree that with effect from the date of this Amendment, the terms of the Main Agreement shall be amended as follows:

The definition of “Other Income” in Clause 17 shall be deleted in its entirety and the following substituted in place thereof:

 

“Other Income”		means the gross proceeds received by Nucana or its Affiliates:(i) from Licensees in connection

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

		with a licence or sub-licence of the Results or Foreground Intellectual Property, including but not limited to, (a) [***], (b) [***], and (c) [***];   and/or
		(ii) from Assignees in connection with assignation of the Results or Foreground Intellectual Property, other than any assignation of the Results or Foreground Intellectual Property as part of the sale of all or substantially all of the business and assets of Nucana to a third party and as part of which sale Nucana’s rights and obligations under this Agreement are also being transferred to the relevant third party;”.

 

3.	Confirmation

Each Party hereby affirms to the other Parties for confirmatory purposes that the Main Agreement, and the Project Period (as defined therein), commenced on 21 August 2009, and has at all times continued in full force and effect since that date.

 

4.	Limitation Period

The Parties acknowledge and agree that the provisions of this Amendment are not intended to and shall not affect the relevant limitation periods (as set out in the Limitation Act 1980) applicable to the Main Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed by their authorized officers or representatives on the date indicated below.

 

Signed on behalf of
Cardiff University /s/ [***]		Date 26th October, 2011
Signed on behalf of
University College Cardiff University
Consultants Ltd /s/ [***]		Date 26th October, 2011
Signed on behalf of		Date: 26th October, 2011
Nucana Biomed Ltd /s/ H. Griffith

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

Amendment No. 4

Amendment No. 4, effective as of the last signature date below, is made:

BETWEEN:

 

(1)

CARDIFF UNIVERSITY, whose administrative offices are at 30-36 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 ODE, U.K. established under royal charter, registered charity number 1136855 (the “University”);

 

(2)

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CARDIFF CONSULTANTS LTD a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (company number 1477909) whose registered office is at 30-36 Newport Road, Cardiff, United Kingdom, CF24 ODE (“UC3”); and

 

(3)

NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (company number 3308778) whose registered office is at Bassett House, 5 Southwell Park Road, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 3PU (“Nucana”),

together the “Parties” and each a “Party”.

RECITAL:

The Parties entered into a Research, Collaboration and Licence Agreement dated 21 August 2009 for a research project, as amended and supplemented by Amendment No. 1 between the Parties with an effective date of 30 September 2010, Amendment No. 2 between the Parties with an effective date of 25 July 2011, and Amendment No.3 between the Parties with an effective date of 26 October 2011 (the “Main Agreement”). The Parties wish to amend the Main Agreement as set forth in this Amendment.

The Parties may agree to further extend or amend the Main Agreement and any such extensions or amendments shall be in writing.

IT IS AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

 

1.	Status and Purpose of this Amendment

This Amendment is supplemental to the Main Agreement. Except as expressly set forth in this Amendment, the Main Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. Certain terms defined in the Main Agreement shall have the same meaning in this Amendment unless otherwise provided in this Amendment.

 

2.	Amendments to the Main Agreement

In consideration of the payment of [***] (£[***]) by Nucana to each of the other Parties (receipt of which is hereby acknowledged by the University and UC3), the Parties agree that with effect from the date of this Amendment, the terms of the Main Agreement shall be amended as follows:

 

2.1	Clause 1.3 shall be amended by the addition of new clauses 1.3.4 and 1.3.5

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

“1.3.4

[***] engaged [***] for an additional term of [***] from [***]; and

 

1.3.5

[***] engaged [***] for an additional term of [***] from [***].”

 

2.3	Clause 2.1 shall be amended by the addition of a new clause 2.1.5:

 

“2.1.5

£[***] on each of the following dates: [***].”

 

2.4	Clause 5.2 shall be deleted and replaced by the following:

 

“5.2

Nucana will pay the following sums to UC3:

£[***],

£[***],

£[***],

£[***],

£[***]

£[***].

UC3 will charge VAT in addition where appropriate.”

 

3.	Confirmation

Each Party hereby affirms to the other Parties for confirmatory purposes that the Main Agreement, and the Project Period (as defined therein), commenced on 21 August 2009, and has at all times continued in full force and effect since that date.

 

4.	Limitation Period

The Parties acknowledge and agree that the provisions of this Amendment are not intended to and shall not affect the relevant limitation periods (as set out in the Limitation Act 1980) applicable to the Main Agreement.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed by their authorized officers representatives on the date indicated below.

 

Signed on behalf of
Cardiff University /s/ [***]		Date 3rd July, 2012
Signed on behalf of
University College Cardiff University
Consultants Ltd /s/ [***]		Date 3rd July, 2012
Signed on behalf of		Date: 13th June, 2012
Nucana Biomed Ltd /s/ H. Griffith

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

Amendment No. 5

Amendment No. 5, effective as of the last signature date below, is made:

BETWEEN:

 

(1)	CARDIFF UNIVERSITY, whose administrative offices are at 30-36 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 ODE, U.K. established under royal charter, registered charity number 1136855 (the “University”);

 

(2)	UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CARDIFF CONSULTANTS LIMITED a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (company number 1477909) whose registered office is at 30-36 Newport Road, Cardiff, United Kingdom, CF24 ODE (“UC3”); and

 

(3)	NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (company number 3308778) whose registered office is at Bassett House, 5 Southwell Park Road, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 3PU ( “Nucana”),

together the “Parties” and each a “Party”.

RECITALS

 

(A)	The Parties entered into a Research, Collaboration and Licence Agreement dated 21 August 2009 for a research project, as amended and supplemented by:

 

(i)

Amendment No. 1 between the Parties with an effective date of 30 September 2010;

 

(ii)

Amendment No. 2 between the Parties with an effective date of 25 July 2011;

 

(iii)

Amendment No. 3 between the Parties with an effective date of 26 October 2011; and

 

(iv)

Amendment No. 4 between the Parties with an effective date of 3 July 2012,

(the “Main Agreement”). The Parties wish to amend the Main Agreement as set forth in this Amendment.

 

(B)	Pursuant to this Amendment, the “Project Period” as defined in clause 17 shall be deemed to have been extended to 31 December 2014.

 

(C)	The Parties may agree to further extend or amend the Main Agreement and any such extensions or amendments shall be in writing.

IT IS AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

 

1	Status and Purpose of this Amendment

This Amendment is supplemental to the Main Agreement. Except as expressly set forth in this Amendment, the Main Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. Certain terms defined in the Main Agreement shall have the same meaning in this Amendment unless otherwise provided in this Amendment.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

2	Amendments to the Main Agreement

In consideration of the payment of [***] (£[***]) by Nucana to each of the other Parties (receipt of which is hereby acknowledged by the University and UC3), the Parties agree that with effect from the date of this Amendment, the terms of the Main Agreement shall be amended as follows:

 

2.1	Clause 1.3 shall be amended by the addition of new clauses 1.3.6 and 1.3.7:-

“1.3.6 [***] engaged [***] for an additional term of [***] from [***]; and

1.3.7 [***] engaged [***] for an additional term of [***] from [***].”

 

2.2	Clause 2.1 shall be amended by the addition of a new clause 2.1.6:

“2.1.6 an additional £[***] on each of the following dates:

[***].”

 

2.3	Clause 5.2 shall be deleted and replaced by the following:

“5.2 Nucana will pay the following sums to UC3:

£[***];

£[***];

£[***];

£[***];

£[***];

£[***];

£[***];

£[***]; and

£[***].

UC3 will charge VAT in addition where appropriate.”

 

3	Confirmation

Each Party hereby affirms to the other Parties for confirmatory purposes that the Main Agreement, and the Project Period (as defined therein), commenced on 21 August 2009, and has at all times continued in full force and effect since that date.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

4	Limitation Period

The Parties acknowledge and agree that the provisions of this Amendment are not intended to and shall not affect the relevant limitation periods (as set out in the Limitation Act 1980) applicable to the Main Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed by their authorized officers or representatives on the date indicated below.

 

Signed for and on behalf of CARIDIFF UNIVERSITY		Signed for and on behalf of UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CARDIFF CONSULTANTS LIMITED
Signature: /s/ [***]		Signature: /s/ [***]
Name: [***]		Name: [***]
Title: Director		Title: Director
Date: 3 December, 2013		Date: 9 December, 2013
Signed for and on behalf of
NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED
Signature: /s/ H. Griffith
Name: Hugh S. Griffith
Title: C.E.O.
Date: 28 November, 2013

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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Amendment No. 6

Amendment No. 6, effective as of the last signature date below, is made:

BETWEEN:

 

(1)	CARDIFF UNIVERSITY, whose administrative offices are at 30-36 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 ODE, U.K. established under royal charter, registered charity number 1136855 (the “University”);

 

(2)	UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CARDIFF CONSULTANTS LIMITED a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (company number 1477909) whose registered office is at 30-36 Newport Road, Cardiff, United Kingdom, CF24 ODE (“UC3”); and

 

(3)	NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (company number 3308778) whose registered office is at Bassett House, 5 Southwell Park Road, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 3PU (“Nucana”),

together the “Parties” and each a “Part”

RECITALS

 

(A)	The Parties entered into a Research, Collaboration and Licence Agreement dated 21 August 2009 for a research project, as amended and supplemented by:

(i) Amendment No. 1 between the Parties with an effective date of 30 September 2010;

(ii) Amendment No. 2 between the Parties with an effective date of 25 July 2011;

(iii) Amendment No. 3 between the Parties with an effective date of 26 October 2011;

(iv) Amendment No. 4 between the Parties with an effective date of 3 July 2012; and

(v)    Amendment No. 5 between the Parties with an effective date of 9 December 2013,

(the “Main Agreement”). The Parties wish to amend the Main Agreement as set forth in this Amendment.

 

(B)	Pursuant to this Amendment, the “Project Period” as defined in clause 17 shall be deemed to have been extended to 31 December 2015.

 

(C)	The Parties may agree to further extend or amend the Main Agreement and any such extensions or amendments shall be in writing.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

IT IS AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

 

1	Status and Purpose of this Amendment

This Amendment is supplemental to the Main Agreement. Except as expressly set forth in this Amendment, the Main Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. Certain terms defined in the Main Agreement shall have the same meaning in this Amendment unless otherwise provided in this Amendment.

 

2	Amendments to the Main Agreement

In consideration of the payment of [***] (£[***]) by Nucana to each of the other Parties (receipt of which is hereby acknowledged by the University and UC3), the Parties agree that with effect from the date of this Amendment, the terms of the Main Agreement shall be amended as follows:

 

2.1

Clause 1.3 shall be amended by the addition of new clauses 1.3.8 and 1.3.9 :-

 

“1.3.8

[***] engaged [***] for an additional term of [***] from [***] to [***]; and

 

1.3.9

[***] engaged [***] for an additional term of [***] from [***] to [***].”

 

2.2

Clause 2.1 shall be amended by the addition of a new clause 2.1.7:

 

“2.1.7

an additional £[***] payable in instalments as follows:

 

(a)

£[***];

 

(b)

£[***];

 

(c)

£[***]; and

 

(d)

£[***].”

 

2.3

Clause 5.2 shall be deleted and replaced by the following:

 

“5.2

Nucana will pay the following sums to UC3:

£[***];

£[***];

£[***];

£[***];

£[***];

£[***];

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

£[***];

£[***];

£[***]

£[***]; and

£[***].

UC3 will charge VAT in addition where appropriate.”

 

3	Amendments to Schedule 1 to the Main Agreement

The Parties hereby agree that with effect from 1 April 2012 Schedule One to the Main Agreement shall be replaced by the Schedule One attached to this Amendment.

 

4	Confirmation

Each Party hereby affirms to the other Parties for confirmatory purposes that the Main Agreement, and the Project Period (as defined therein), commenced on 21 August 2009, and has at all times continued in full force and effect since that date.

 

5	Limitation Period

The Parties acknowledge and agree that the provisions of this Amendment are not intended to and shall not affect the relevant limitation periods (as set out in the Limitation Act 1980) applicable to the Main Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed by their authorized officers or representatives on the date indicated below.

 

Signed for and on behalf of		Signed for and on behalf of
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY		UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CARDIFF CONSULTANTS LIMITED
Signature: /s/ [***]		Signature: /s/ [***]
Name: [***]		Name: [***]
Title: Director		Title: Director
Date: 6 October, 2014		Date: 6 October, 2014

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

Signed for and on behalf of
NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED
Signature: /s/ H. Griffith
Name: Hugh S. Griffith
Title: C.E.O.
Date: 8 October, 2014

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

SCHEDULE ONE

[***]

[***]

[***]

[***]

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

Amendment No. 7

Amendment No. 7, effective as of the last signature date below, is made:

BETWEEN:

 

(1)	CARDIFF UNIVERSITY, whose administrative offices are at 30-36 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 ODE, U.K. established under royal charter, registered charity number 1136855 (the “University”);

 

(2)	UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CARDIFF CONSULTANTS LIMITED a company Incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (company number 1477909) whose registered office is at 30-36 Newport Road, Cardiff, United Kingdom, CF24 ODE (“UC3”); and

 

(3)	NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (company number 3308778) whose registered office is at Northwest Wing, Bush House, Aldwych, London WG2B 4EZ(“Nucana”),

together the “Parties” and each a “Party”.

RECITALS

 

(A)	The Parties entered into a Research, Collaboration and Licence Agreement dated 21 August 2009 for a research project, as amended and supplemented by:

 

(i)

Amendment No. 1 between the Parties with an effective date of 30 September 2010;

 

(ii)

Amendment No. 2 between the Parties with an effective date of 25 July 2011;

 

(iii)

Amendment No.3 between the Parties with an effective date of 26 October 2011;

 

(iv)

Amendment No.4 between the Parties with an effective date of 3 July 2012;

 

(v)

Amendment No.5 between the Parties with an effective date of 9 December 2013; and

 

(vi)

Amendment No 6 between the Parties with an effective date of 8 October 2014,

(the “Main Agreement”). The Parties wish to amend the Main Agreement as set forth in this Amendment.

 

(B)	Pursuant to this Amendment, the ‘Project Period” as defined in clause 17 shall be deemed to have been extended to 31 December 2015.

 

(C)	The Parties may agree to further extend or amend the Main Agreement and any such extensions or amendments shall be in writing.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

IT IS AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

 

1	Status and Purpose of this Amendment

This Amendment is supplemental to the Main Agreement. Except as expressly set forth in this Amendment, the Main Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. Certain terms defined in the Main Agreement shall have the same meaning In this Amendment unless otherwise provided In this Amendment.

 

2	Amendments to the Main Agreement

In consideration of the payment of [***] (£[***]) by NuCana to each of the other Parties (receipt of which is hereby acknowledged by the University and UC3), the Parties agree that with effect from the date of this Amendment, the terms of the Main Agreement shall be amended as follows:

 

2.1

Clause 1.3 shall be amended by the addition of a new clause 1.3.10:-

“1.3.10 [***] engaged [***] for an additional term of [***] from [***] to [***];

 

2.2

Clause 2.1 shall be amended by the addition of a new clause 2.1.8:

“2.1.8 an additional £[***] payable in instalments as follows:

 

(a)

£[***]; and

 

(b)

£[***]”

 

3	Amendments to Schedule t to the Main Agreement

The Parties hereby agree that with effect from 1 April 2012 Schedule One to the Main Agreement shelf be replaced by the Schedule One attached to this Amendment.

 

4	Confirmation

Each Party hereby affirms to the other Parties for confirmatory purposes that the Main Agreement, and the Project Period (as defined therein), commenced on 21 August 2009, and lies at all times continued in full force and effect since that date.

 

5	Limitation Period

The Parties acknowledge and agree that the provisions of this Amendment are not intended to and shall not affect the relevant limitation periods (as set out in the Limitation Act 1980) applicable to the Main Agreement.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed by their authorized officers or representatives on the date indicated below.

 

Signed for and on behalf of		Signed for and on behalf of
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY		UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CARDIFF CONSULTANTS LIMITED
Signature: /s/ [***]		Signature: /s/ [***]
Name: [***]		Name: [***]
Title: Director		Title: Director
Date: 17 March, 2015		Date: 16 March, 2015
Signed for and on behalf of
NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED
Signature: /s/ H. Griffith
Name: Hugh Griffith
Title: C.E.O.
Date: 13 March, 2015

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

SCHEDULE ONE

[***]

[***]

[***]

[***]

[***]

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

Amendment No. 8

Amendment No. 8, effective as of the last signature date below, is made:

BETWEEN:

 

(1)	CARDIFF UNIVERSITY whose administrative offices are at 30-36 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 ODE, U.K. established under royal charter, registered charity number 1136855 (the “University”);

 

(2)	UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CARDIFF CONSULTANTS LIMITED a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (company number 1477909) whose registered office Is at 30-36 Newport Road, Cardiff, United Kingdom, CF24 ODE (“UC3”); and

 

(3)	NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (company number 3308778) whose registered office is at 78 Cannon Street, London EC4N 6AF (“Nucana”),

together the “Parties” and each a “Party”.

RECITALS

 

(A)	The Parties entered into a Research, Collaboration and Licence Agreement dated 21 August 2009 for a research project, as amended and supplemented by:

(i) Amendment No. 1 between the Parties with an effective date of 30 September 2010;

(ii) Amendment No. 2 between the Parties with an effective date of 25 July 2011;

(iii) Amendment No. 3 between the Parties with an effective date of 26 October 2011;

(iv) Amendment No. 4 between the Parties with an effective date of 3 July 2012;

(v) Amendment No. 5 between the Parties with an effective date of 9 December 2013;

(vi) Amendment No. 6 between the Parties with an effective date of 8 October 2014; and

(vii) Amendment No. 7 between the Parties with an effective date of 17 March 2015.

(the “Main Agreement”), The Parties wish to amend the Main Agreement as set forth In this Amendment.

 

(B)	Pursuant to this Amendment, the ‘Project Period” as defined in clause 17 shall be deemed to have been extended to 31 December 2016.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

(C)	The Parties may agree to further extend or amend the Main Agreement and any such extensions or amendments shall be in ‘,mating,

IT IS AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

 

1	Status and Purpose of this Amendment

This Amendment Is supplemental to the Main Agreement. Except as expressly set forth in this Amendment, the Main Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. Certain terms defined in the Main Agreement shall have the same meaning in this Amendment unless otherwise provided in this Amendment.

 

2	Amendments to the Main Agreement

In consideration of the payment of [***] (£[***]) by NuCana to each of the other Parties (receipt of which is hereby acknowledged by the University and UC3), the Parties agree that with effect from the date of this Amendment, the terms of the Main Agreement shall be amended as follows:

 

2.1

Clause 1.3 shalt be amended by the addition of a new clause 1.3,11:-

“1.3.11 [***] and [***] engaged [***] for an additional term of [***] from [***] to [***]”

 

2.2

Clause 2.1 shall be amended by the addition of a new clause 2.1.9:

“2.1.9 an additional £[***] payable in instalments as follows:

 

(a)

£[***]; and

 

(b)

£[***]”

 

2.3

Clause 5.2 shall be amended by the addition of the following:

“£[***]”

 

3	Amendments to Schedule 1 to the Main Agreement

The Parties hereby agree that with effect from 1 April 2015 Schedule One to the Main Agreement shall be replaced by the Schedule One attached to this Amendment.

 

4	Confirmation

Each Party hereby affirms to the other Parties for confirmatory purposes that the Main Agreement, and the Project Period (as defined therein), commenced on 21 August 2009, and has at all times continued in full force and effect since that date.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

5	Limitation Period

The Parties acknowledge and agree that the provisions of this Amendment are not intended to and shall not affect the relevant limitation periods (as set out in the Limitation Act 1980) applicable to the Main Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed by their authorized officers or representatives on the date indicated below.

 

Signed for and on behalf of		Signed for and on behalf of
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY		UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CARDIFF CONSULTANTS LIMITED
Signature: /s/ [***]		Signature: /s/ [***]
Name: [***]		Name: [***]
Title: Director		Title: Director
Date: 5 October, 2015		Date: 5 October, 2015
Signed for and on behalf of
NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED
Signature: /s/ H. Griffith
Name: Hugh S. Griffith
Title: C.E.O.
Date: 2 October, 2015

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

SCHEDULE ONE

[***]

[***]

[***]

[***]

[***]

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

Amendment No. 9

Amendment No. 9, effective as of the last signature date below, is made:

BETWEEN:

 

(1)	CARDIFF UNIVERSITY, whose administrative offices are at 30-36 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 ODE, U.K. established under royal charter, registered charity number 1136855 (the “University”);

 

(2)	UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CARDIFF CONSULTANTS LIMITED a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (company number 1477909) whose registered office is at 30-36 Newport Road, Cardiff, United Kingdom, CF24 ODE (“UC3”); and

 

(3)	NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (company number 3308778) whose registered office is at Northwest Wing, Bush House, Aldwych, London WC2B 4EZ( “Nucana”),

together the ‘Parties” and each a “Party”.

RECITALS

 

(A)	The Parties entered into a Research, Collaboration and Licence Agreement dated 21 August 2009 for a research project, as amended and supplemented by:

 

(i)

Amendment No.1 between the Parties with an effective date of 30 September 2010;

 

(ii)

Amendment No.2 between the Parties with an effective date of 25 July 2011;

 

(iii)

Amendment No.3 between the Parties with an effective date of 26 October 2011;

 

(iv)

Amendment No.4 between the Parties with an effective date of 3 July 2012;

 

(v)

Amendment No.5 between the Parties with an effective date of 9 December 2013;

 

(vi)

Amendment No.6 between the Parties with an effective date of 8 October 2014;

 

(vii)

Amendment No.7 between the Parties with an effective date of 17 March 2015; and

 

(vii)

Amendment No.8 between the Parties with an effective date of 5 October 2015.

(the “Main Agreement”). The Parties wish to amend the Main Agreement as set forth In this Amendment.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

(B)	Pursuant to this Amendment, the “Project Period” as defined in clause 17 shall be deemed to have been extended to 31 December 2017.

 

(C)	The Parties may agree to further extend or amend the Main Agreement and any such extensions or amendments shall be in writing.

IT IS AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

 

1	Status and Purpose of this Amendment

This Amendment is supplemental to the Main Agreement. Except as expressly set forth In this Amendment, the Main Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. Certain terms defined in the Main Agreement shall have the same meaning in this Amendment unless otherwise provided in this Amendment

 

2	Amendments to the Main Agreement

In consideration of the payment of [***] (£[***]) by NuCana to each of the other Parties (receipt of which is hereby acknowledged by the University and UC3), the Parties agree that with effect from the date of this Amendment, the terms of the Main Agreement shall be amended as follows:

 

2.1

Clause 1.3 shall be amended by the replacement of clause 1.3.11 with the following:-

 

“1.3.11

[***] and [***] engaged [***] for an additional term of [***] from [***] to [***] and [***] engaged [***] for [***] from [***]”

 

2.2

1.3 shall be further amended by the addition of a new clause 1.3.12:-

 

“1.3.12

[***] engaged [***] for an additional term of [***] from [***] to [***]”

 

2.3

Clause 2.1 shall be amended by the addition of a new clause 2.1.10:

 

“2.1.10

an additional £[***] payable in instalments as follows:

 

(a)

£[***]; and

 

(b)

£[***]”

 

2.4

Clause 5.2 shall be amended by the addition of the following:

 

“£[***]”

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

3	Confirmation

Each Party hereby affirms to the other Parties for confirmatory purposes that the Main Agreement, and the Project Period (as defined therein), commenced on 21 August 2009, and has at all times continued in full force and effect since that date.

 

4	Limitation Period

The Parties acknowledge and agree that the provisions of this Amendment are not intended to and shall not affect the relevant limitation periods (as set out in the Limitation Act 1980) applicable to the Main Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed by their authorized officers or representatives on the date indicated below.

 

Signed for and on behalf of		Signed for and on behalf of
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY		UNVIERSITY COLLEGE CARDIFF CONSULTANTS LIMITED
Signature: /s/ [***]		Signature: /s/ [***]
Name: [***]		Name: [***]
Title: Acting Director		Title: Director
Date: 22 November, 2016		Date: 18 November, 2016
Signed for and on behalf of
NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED
Signature: /s/ H. Griffith
Name: Hugh S. Griffith
Title: C.E.O.
Date: 9 November, 2016

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Exhibit 10.6

 

DATED		15th March 2012

 

(1) NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

- and -

(2) CARDIFF PROTIDES LIMITED

 

 

VARIATION AGREEMENT

 

 

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

THIS AGREEMENT is made the 15th day of March 2012

BETWEEN:

 

(1)	NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED, a company incorporated under the Companies Acts (registered number 03308778) and having its registered office at Bassett House, 5 Southwellpark Road, Camberley, Surrey GU15 3PU (“BioMed”);

 

(2)	CARDIFF PROTIDES LIMITED, a company incorporated under the Companies Acts (registered number 05455482) and having its registered office at Ty Myddfai, National Botanic Gardens of Wales, Llanarthney, Carmarthen, Dyfed SA32 8HZ (“ProTides”).

RECITALS:

 

(1)	Pursuant to the Nucana Agreement (defined below), ProTides granted an exclusive licence to BioMed under certain patents and technical information and the parties agreed to collaborate to develop the licensed technology.

 

(2)	The parties wish to make certain amendments to the Nucana Agreement subject to and in accordance with the terms set out in this Agreement.

IT IS AGREED as follows:

 

1.	Definitions

In this Agreement, the following words shall have the following meanings:

 

“Assignment Agreement”		means the assignment agreement in the form set out in the Schedule to this Agreement;
“Nucana Agreement”		means the Licence and Collaboration Agreement dated 13 October 2009 between BioMed and ProTides;
“Variation Date”		means the date of this Agreement.

 

2.	Status of this Agreement

 

2.1	This Agreement is supplemental to the Nucana Agreement. Except as expressly amended by this Agreement, the Nucana Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

2.2	Unless otherwise specified in this Agreement, defined terms used in this Agreement shall have the same meaning as set out in the Nucana Agreement.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

2.3	The amendments set out in this Agreement shall, unless stated otherwise, take effect from the Variation Date.

 

3.	Amendments

 

Title

 

3.1	The title of the Nucana Agreement shall be amended to be the Assignment, Licence and Collaboration Agreement.

 

Recitals

 

3.2	A new recital E shall be added to the Assignment, Licence and Collaboration Agreement which shall read:-

“With effect from the Variation Date, the parties have agreed that the patents which were previously licensed to BioMed will be assigned by ProTides to BioMed. The parties agreed that this assignment will not otherwise affect the parties’ respective rights under this Agreement and that ProTides will retain reversion rights in relation to such patents on termination of this Agreement.”

Definitions

 

3.3	Clause 1.1 of the Nucana Agreement shall be amended as follows:-

 

3.3.1

the following new definition shall be inserted into clause 1.1:-

“Affiliate” means in relation to a party, any body corporate or other legal entity which:-

 

(i)

is directly or indirectly owned and/or controlled by that party;

 

(ii)

directly or indirectly owns and/or controls that party; or

 

(iii)

is directly or indirectly owned and/or controlled by the legal entity referred to in (ii) above.

In the case of legal entities having stocks and/or shares, ownership or control shall exist through the direct or indirect ownership and/or control of more than fifty percent of the voting shares. In the case of any other legal entity, ownership and/or control shall exist through the ability to directly or indirectly control the management and/or business of the legal entity;

“Agreement IP” means the Licensed IP and the Assigned IP;

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

“Assignment Agreement” means the assignment agreement entered into by the parties pursuant to Clause 3.3 of this Agreement;”

“Assigned IP” means the patents and patent applications assigned to BioMed pursuant to the Assignment Agreement, being the Compound Patents;”

 

3.3.2

the definition of Commencement Date shall be amended by the replacement of the words “the last date of execution of this Agreement” with the words “13 October 2009”;

 

3.3.3

the first letter of the word “commencement” where it appears in the last line of the definition of “Compounds” shall be capitalised;

 

3.3.4

the definition of Licensed IP shall be amended by the addition of the word “any” before “Compounds”, the addition of the words “which are not covered by any claim of an issued and unexpired patent or any subsisting patent application comprised within the Assigned IP” after the word “Compound” and the deletion of the words, “,the Compound Patents,”;

 

3.3.5

the definitions of “ProTides Development Costs”, and “Option Notice”, “Option Period” and “Option Series” shall be deleted;

 

3.3.6

the definition of Sub-Licensee shall be amended by:-

 

3.3.6.1

insertion of a new part (ii) which shall read, “any person or entity to whom BioMed grants a licence of its rights in the Assigned IP or any Compounds; and/or”;

 

3.3.6.2

renumbering part (ii) as part (iii) and in that part replacing the words “Licensed IP” with the words “Agreement IP” and after the words, “part(i)”, inserting the following words, “and/or part (ii);

 

3.3.6.3

the reference to “the Licensed IP” in the second from last line of the definition of “Sub-Licensee” shall be replaced by the words “any of the Agreement IP”.;

 

3.3.7

the definition of Sub-Licence Agreement shall be amended by replacing the words “the Licensed IP” with the words “any of the Agreement IP”; and

 

3.3.8

the word “and” shall be deleted after the end of the definition of “University”, the full stop at the end of the definition of “Valid Claim” shall be replaced by a semi-colon followed by “and” and a new definition of “Variation Date” which shall read as follows:

“15th March 2012”

shall be inserted after the definition of Valid Claim.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

Clause 2

 

3.4

Clause 2.2 of the Nucana Agreement shall be amended by inserting the following sentence at the end of the clause, “For the avoidance of doubt, the licence will not expire in a country if a Valid Claim exists in that country even though, following execution of the Assignment Agreement, the Valid Claim forms part of the Assigned IP and not part of the Licensed IP”.

Clause 3

 

3.5	Clause 3 of the Nucana Agreement shall be amended by:-

 

3.5.1

inserting the words “AND ASSIGNMENT” in the title of the clause;

 

3.5.2

inserting the words “Compounds, the Assigned IP, the” before the words “Licensed IP” in clause 3,2; and

 

3.5.3

inserting a new clause 3.3 which shall read:-

“On or immediately after the Variation Date, ProTides shall enter into an assignment in the form set out in Part 4 of the Schedule to this Agreement pursuant to which ProTides will assign to BioMed all of ProTides’ right, title and interest in the Compound Patents to BioMed.”

Clause 5

 

3.6	Clause 5 of the Nucana Agreement shall be amended by:-

 

3.6.1

Amending the title to read, “LICENSING AND SUB-LICENSING”;

 

3.6.2

in clause 5.1, inserting the words “(which includes Affiliates of BioMed) licences and/or” before the word “sub-licences” and inserting the words “the Agreement IP and/ or” before the words “its rights”;

 

3.6.3

in clauses 5.2 to 5.6, inserting the words “(which includes Affiliates of BioMed) licence and/or” before the word “sub-licence” wherever it occurs in those clauses, and replacing the words “Licensed IP” wherever the occur in those clauses with the words, “Agreement IP”; and

 

3.6.4

the references to “affiliates” in clauses 5.3.3, 5.3.7 and 5.3.8 shall be changed to “Affiliates”.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

Clause 6

 

3.7	Clause 6 of the Nucana Agreement shall amended as follows:

 

3.7.1

by the deletion of the words “and as a forum for determining the issues referred to in Clauses 9.8 and 9.9” where they appear in clause 6.1;

 

3.7.2

by the deletion of the words “and periodically thereafter as necessary to fulfill its functions pursuant to Clauses 9.8 and 9.9” where they appear in clause 6.4;

 

3.7.3

by replacing the semi-colon at the end of sub-clause 6.5.4 with a full stop;

 

3.7.4

by the deletion of sub-clauses 6.5.5 and 6.5.6; and

 

3.7.5

by the deletion of the words “and other than decisions pursuant to Clauses 9.8 and 9.9, which can only be made by consensus” and “or the matters specified in Clauses 9.8 and 9.9 which must be agreed by consensus” where they appear in clause 6.8; and

 

3.7.6

by the deletion of the words “and thereafter as necessary to fulfil the functions referred to in Clauses 9.2, 9.8 and 9.9” where they appear in clause 6.9.

Clause 9

 

3.8	Clause 9 of the Nucana Agreement shall be deleted in its entirety and the following words inserted, “Deleted”.

Clause 10

 

3.9	Clause 10 of the Nucana Agreement shall be amended with effect from the Variation Date as follows:-

 

3.9.1

in clause 10.2, by inserting the words, “execution of the Assignment Agreement and”, before the words, “the licence rights granted”, and by deletion of the words, “(subject to ProTides having fulfilled its obligations under Clause 12.2.3 as at the date of payment)”; and

 

3.9.2

in clause 10.5 by inserting the words, “execution of the Assignment Agreement and”, before the words, “the licence rights granted”.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

Clause 12

 

3.10	Clause 12 of the Nucana Agreement shall be amended with effect from the Commencement Date as follows:-

 

3.10.1

by adding the words “BioMed will on ProTides’ request use its reasonable endeavours to assist ProTides to undertake the actions specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) above, however the responsibility for fulfilling the obligations remains solely with ProTides.” at the end of clause 12.2.3;

 

3.10.2

in the first sentence of clause 12.4, the word “its” shall be replaced by “BioMed’s”;

 

3.10.3

in clauses 12.7, 12.8 and/or 12.12 all references to “Licensed IP” shall be replaced with the words, “Agreement IP”.

Clause 13

 

3.11	Clause 13 of the Nucana Agreement shall be amended by replacing in clauses 13.2.2, 13.2.3, 13.2.8 and 13.7.1 the words “Licensed IP” with the words “Agreement IP”.

Clause 16

 

3.12	Clause 16 of the Nucana Agreement shall be amended as follows:-

 

3.12.1

in clause 16.1 by amending the words “Clause 15.2” to read “Clause 15.2.1” and by insertion of the words “but only” before the words “as a result of” in the first sentence and by deleting “9 (in relation to its obligations with respect to using or licensing the Licensed IP (including licensing to BioMed if BioMed exercises any option under Clause 9.15) only)”; and

 

3.12.2

in clause 16.1.2 by replacing the words “Licensed IP” with the words “Agreement IP”; and

 

3.12.3

replacing the full stop at the end of clause 16.1.3 with the word “; and” and inserting a new clause 16.1.4 which shall read as follows:-

“BioMed will immediately assign back to ProTides all rights in and to the Compound Patents by promptly executing an assignment agreement in favour of ProTides on terms equivalent to those set out in Part 4 of the Schedule to this Agreement.”;

 

3.12.4

in clauses 16.2.2 and 16.2.3, replacing the words “Licensed IP” with the words, “Agreement IP”;

 

3.12.5

in clause 16.2.3, by inserting the words “Compound Patents,” before the words “Compound Divisionals” and by inserting the following words at the end of the clause, “by promptly executing an assignment agreement in favour of ProTides on terms equivalent to those set out in Part 4 of the Schedule to this Agreement”;

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

3.12.6

by deleting the paragraph at the end of clause 16.2 which starts with the words, “Notwithstanding the above,”; and

 

3.12.7

in clause 16.5 by inserting the words “(including any instalments under clause 10.4 relating to events which occurred prior to termination or expiry), after the words “sums outstanding as at the date of termination or expiry”.

Clause 19

 

3.13	Clause 19 of the Nucana Agreement shall be amended as follows:-

 

3.13.1

in Clause 19.2 by inserting the following words after the words “under this Agreement”:-

“(including in the case of BioMed its rights in and to the Assigned IP)”

 

3.13.2

the references to “affiliate0 in clause 19.2.2 shall be changed to “Affiliate”.

 

3.13.3

by inserting a new clause 19.6 which shall read:-

“To the extent there is any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of any Agreement executed pursuant to Clause 3.3 of this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.”

Schedule

 

3.14	A new part 4 to the Schedule to the Nucana Agreement shall be added which shall contain the Assignment Agreement.

 

4.

General

Further Assurance

 

4.1	Each of the parties to this Agreement shall, as and when requested to do so by another party, do all acts and execute all documents as may be reasonably required to give effect to the provisions of this Agreement.

Third Parties

 

4.2	This Agreement does not create any right enforceable by any person who is not a party to it (‘Third Party’) under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999, but this clause does not affect any right or remedy of a Third Party which exists or is available apart from that Act.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

Governing Law

 

4.3	This Agreement is governed by the laws of England and the parties hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.

Consolidated Agreement

 

4.4	Following the Variation Date, the parties shall prepare and agree a consolidated and re—stated agreement which incorporates the amendments set out in this Agreement into the Nucana Agreement.

Costs

 

4.5	BioMed shall pay to ProTides on or immediately after the Variation Date the reasonable external costs and expenses actually incurred by ProTides in relation to the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement and any documents related to it.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

AGREED by the parties through their authorised signatories on the date written above:

 

For and on behalf of				For and on behalf of
Nucana Biomed Limited				Cardiff Protides Limited
/s/ Hugh Griffith				/s/ [***]
Signed				Signed
Hugh Griffith				[***]
Print name				Print name
CEO				CEO
Title				Title

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

Schedule

Part 1 - Assignment Agreement

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

NuCana BioMed Limited

10 Lochside Place

Edinburgh Park

Edinburgh

EH12 9RG, UK

T: +44(0) 131 248 3660

Cardiff ProTides Limited

Ty Myddfai

National Botanic Gardens of Wales

Llanarthney

Carmarthen

Dyfed

SA32 8HZ

15 May 2012

Dear Sirs

NuCana BioMed Limited (“Nucana”)

Cardiff ProTides Limited (“ProTides”)

Licence and Collaboration Agreement between NuCana and ProTides dated 13 October 2009, as amended by a side letter between NuCana and ProTides dated 16 March 2012 (the “Agreement”)

We refer to our recent discussions regarding the milestone payments set out at Clause 10 of the Agreement.

In consideration of NuCana making a [***] payment of [***] Pounds (£[***]) Sterling to ProTides within [***] following the last date of execution of this letter by the parties hereto, which payment [***], we hereby agree that the following changes shall be made to the Agreement:

 

1.

[***];

 

2.

[***];

 

3.

[***];

 

4.

[***];

 

5.

[***]; and

 

6.

[***].

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

This letter does not amend any other provisions of the Agreement, including without limitation the terms in accordance with which the above mentioned milestone payments are to be made by NuCana.

Any terms not defined in this letter will have the same meaning as set out in the Agreement.

ProTides, by signing the acknowledgement of this letter set out below, hereby warrants to NuCana that the terms of this letter shall be binding upon it and that it is not bound or required to obtain the consent of any third parties, including but not limited to any shareholders of ProTides, in relation to or in order to agree to the changes to the Agreement as set out above.

The terms of this letter will be governed by the laws of England and the parties hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts.

Please confirm your acknowledgement of and agreement to the provisions of this letter by signing a copy of it where indicated and returning it to us.

Yours faithfully

 

/s/ H. Griffith
Hugh S. Griffith
For and on behalf of NuCana BioMed Limited

We hereby acknowledge receipt of and agree to be bound by the terms of the foregoing letter.

Signed by

 

/s/ [***]						Date 15/5/12
[***]

For and on behalf of Cardiff ProTides Limited

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Exhibit 10.7

Conformed Copy as amended pursuant to a Variation Agreement between the parties dated 15th March 2012.

ASSIGNMENT, LICENCE AND COLLABORATION AGREEMENT

between

NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

and

CARDIFF PROTIDES LIMITED

Dated: 13^th October 2009

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

INDEX

CLAUSE				PAGE
1.		Definitions and Interpretation			4
2.		Term			10
3.		Grant of Licence and Assignment			11
4.		Supply of Technical Information and Compounds			12
5.		Licensing and Sub-Licensing			12
6.		Joint Management committee			14
7.		Conduct of the Research Work			17
8.		BioMed Responsibilities			21
9.		DELETED			22
10.		Financial Provisions			22
11.		Intellectual Property			29
12.		Patenting			30
13.		Warranties and Liabilities			34
14.		Confidentiality			37
15.		Termination			41
16.		Effects of Termination			42
17.		Force Majeure			45
18.		Notices			45
19.		General			46
20.		Governing Law			48
SCHEDULE
Part 1 Licensed Patents					49
Part 2 Technical Information					50
Part 3 Staff Costs					51
Part 4 Assignment Agreement					52

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

ASSIGNMENT, LICENCE AND COLLABORATION AGREEMENT

BETWEEN:

NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED, a company incorporated in England under the Companies Acts (Registered No. 03308778) and having its registered office at Butler & Co Accountants, 5 Southwell Park Road, Camberley, Surrey GU15 3PU (“BioMed”);

and

CARDIFF PROTIDES LIMITED, a company incorporated in England and Wales under the Companies Acts (Registered No. 05455482) and having its registered office at Ty Myddfai, National Botanic Gardens of Wales, Llanarthney, Carmarthenshire SA32 8HZ (“ProTides”).

WHEREAS:

 

A.	BioMed is a speciality pharmaceutical company specialising in the research, development, marketing and sale of pharmaceutical products;

 

B.	ProTides has expertise in the application of protide technology to enhance purine and pyrimidine based nucleosides which may be used as active ingredients in pharmaceutical products and is the owner of various patents relating thereto;

 

C.

BioMed wishes to obtain, and ProTides has agreed to grant to BioMed, an exclusive licence under the Patents for the purpose of utilising the protide technology to research and develop pharmaceutical products incorporating purine and pyrimidine based nucleosides as active ingredients for any indication and thereafter to manufacture, market, distribute and sell such pharmaceutical products;

 

D.	In addition BioMed wishes to engage ProTides to provide certain research services relating to synthesis of the Compounds.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

3

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E.

With effect from the Variation Date, the parties have agreed that the patents which were previously licensed to BioMed will be assigned by ProTides to BioMed. The parties have agreed that this assignment will not otherwise affect the parties’ respective rights under this Agreement and that ProTides will retain reversion rights in relation to such patents on termination of this Agreement.

NOW IT IS AGREED as follows:

 

1.	DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

 

1.1	In this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires:-

Affiliate means in relation to a party, any body corporate or other legal entity which:-

 

(i)

is directly or indirectly owned and/or controlled by that party;

 

(ii)

directly or indirectly owns and/or controls that party; or

 

(iii)

is directly or indirectly owned and/or controlled by the legal entity referred to in (ii) above.

In the case of legal entities having stocks and/or shares, ownership or control shall exist through the direct or indirect ownership and/or control of more than fifty percent of the voting shares. In the case of any other legal entity, ownership and/or control shall exist through the ability to directly or indirectly control the management and/or business of the legal entity;

Agreement IP means the Licensed IP and the Assigned IP;

Assignment Agreement means the assignment agreement entered into by the parties pursuant to Clause 3.3;

Assigned IP means the patents and patent applications assigned to BioMed pursuant to the Assignment Agreement, being the Compound Patents;

Commencement Date means 13 October 2009;

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

4

---

Compounds means all and any protides of nucleosides which are either:

 

(i)

covered by a Valid Claim; or

 

(ii)

have been synthesised by ProTides prior to the Commencement Date;

Compound Divisionals has the meaning set out in Clause 12.1.1;

Compound Patents means all patents and patent applications owned by ProTides as at the Commencement Date or at any time during the period of this Agreement which relate to protides of nucleosides, including:

 

(i)

the patent applications listed in Part 1 of the Schedule;

 

(ii)

the Compound Divisionals;

 

(iii)

all patent applications which claim priority from the patent applications referred to in (i) and (ii) above or from any patent application from which the patent applications referred to in (i) and (ii) above claim priority;

 

(iv)

all patents granted pursuant to the patent applications referred to in (i), (ii) and (iii) above; and

 

(v)

all reissues, extensions, substitutions, continuations, divisions, supplementary protection certificates or extensions of term relating to the patent applications and patents referred to in (i) to (iv) above;

Confidential Information means all information which is in the possession of one of the parties and which is disclosed to the other party or to which the other party is permitted access during the period of this Agreement which is marked “confidential” or is communicated in confidence or that a reasonable person in like circumstances would consider to be confidential including trade secrets; business methods and plans; product development plans, pricing, budgets, and costs, manufacturing and customer information; and all information relating to the Compounds, the Licensed IP, the Products, the Research Work, and/ or the Research IP or comprised within the Technical Information or the Research IP;

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

5

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Initial Period means a period of [***] following the Commencement Date;

JMC has the meaning set out in Clause 6.1;

JMC Chair has the meaning set out in Clause 6.3;

Licensed IP means any Compounds which are not covered by any claim of an issued and unexpired patent or any subsisting patent application comprised within the Assigned IP, and the Technical Information;

[***] means [***], a company incorporated under the laws of England having its registered office at [***];

[***] Sales means in relation to BioMed or any Sub-Licensee, and in relation to each unit of Product, the amount received by BioMed or any Sub-Licensee (as the case may be) from third parties in respect of supplies of that Product on a [***] basis, but excluding any amounts received by BioMed from its Sub-Licensees or by its Sub-Licensee from BioMed or any other Sub-Licensees in respect of manufacture and/ or supply of Products which are intended for supply on a [***] basis, and less the following items provided they are shown in writing on the relevant invoice or in other documentary evidence:

 

(i)

[***];

 

(ii)

[***];

 

(iii)

[***];

 

(iv)

[***];

 

(v)

[***]; and

 

(vi)

[***];

Net Sales means in relation to BioMed or any Sub-Licensee, and in relation to each Unit of Product, the amount received by BioMed or any Sub-Licensee (as the case may be) from third parties in the first arm’s length commercial sale of that Product (or the amount that would have been received for the first arm’s length commercial sale

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

6

---

if the supply is not on an arm’s length commercial basis), but excluding (i) any [***] Sales; (ii) any amounts received by BioMed from any Sub-Licensees or by a Sub-Licensee from BioMed or any other Sub-Licensees in respect of manufacture and/ or supply of Products which are intended for resale; and (iii) supplies of Product by BioMed or any Sub-Licensee (as the case may be) [***] (or, in relation to supply by a Sub-Licensee, for any longer period specified in the relevant Sub-licence Agreement) following the launch of each Product (on an indication by indication basis); and less the following items provided they are shown in writing on the relevant invoice or in other documentary evidence:

 

(i)

[***];

 

(ii)

[***];

 

(iii)

[***];

 

(iv)

[***]; and

 

(v)

[***];

Principal Investigator means [***] of the [***] or any replacement for [***] appointed in accordance with Clause 7.6;

Products means all pharmaceutical products developed, manufactured, marketed, distributed and/or sold by BioMed or a Sub-Licensee which are covered by a Valid Claim;

Quarter means the period from (and including) the Commencement Date until the next falling Quarter Date, the period of three (3) months commencing on (and including) the next falling Quarter Date and each subsequent period of three (3) months during the period of this Agreement, and the term “Quarterly” will be construed accordingly;

Quarter Date means 1st January, 1st April, 1st July, and 1st October in each calendar year;

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

7

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Research IP means all compounds, information, know-how, results and inventions (patentable or unpatentable) generated or derived by ProTides, the University or [***], or any other approved sub-contractor, in each case in the course of performing the Research Work, including, where so generated or derived, [***];

Research Patents means:

 

(i)

all patent applications filed for patentable inventions comprised within the Research IP;

 

(ii)

all patent applications which claim priority from the patent applications referred to in (i) above;

 

(iii)

all patents granted pursuant to the patent applications referred to in (i) and (ii) above; and

 

(iv)

all reissues, extensions, substitutions, continuations, divisions, supplementary protection certificates or extensions of term relating to the patent applications and patents referred to in (i) to (iii) above;

Research Work means the work relating to initial discovery, novel drug design, and initial in vitro screening of purine and pyrimidine based nucleosides to be conducted by ProTides pursuant to Clause 7 as further described in the Research Workplan;

Research Workplan means the workplan to be agreed by the JMC pursuant to Clause 6.5.1 as changed, amended and/ or extended from time to time pursuant to Clauses 6.5.2 and 6.5.4 (subject always to Clause 6.6.3);

Schedule means the schedule (in three (3) parts) annexed to and which will be deemed to form part of this Agreement;

Staff Costs means the staff costs set out in Part 3 of the Schedule;

Sub-Contracting Services means contract research and development, consultancy, sub-contract manufacturing, packaging, warehousing and distribution logistics (including import and export activities) services;

Sub-Licensee means:

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

8

---

(i)

any person or entity to whom BioMed grants a sub-licence of its rights to use any of the Licensed IP; and/or

 

(ii)

any person or entity to whom BioMed grants a licence of its rights in the Assigned IP or any Compounds; and/or

 

(iii)

any person or entity to whom a sub-licence or right to use any of the Agreement IP is granted by a party described in part (i) and/or part (ii) above,

but excluding in each case any third party sub-contractor to whom BioMed or any of the parties described in parts (i) and (ii) above grants a licence or sub-licence of its rights to use any of the Agreement IP solely for the purpose of providing Sub-Contractor Services to BioMed or any of the parties described in parts (i) and (ii) above;

Sub-Licence Agreement means any agreement entered into between BioMed and a Sub-Licensee and/or between two Sub-Licensees in terms of which BioMed grants to the Sub-Licensee or a Sub-Licensee grants to another Sub-Licensee a licence to use any of the Agreement IP;

Technical Information means all and any information of a scientific or technical nature in ProTides’ possession as at the Commencement Date relating to the Compounds and/ or the protide technology as described in the Compound Patents including results of and data arising from [***]; and all files, reports, documents, papers, and databases (whether printed or electronic) incorporating, comprising or recording any of the foregoing;

Territory means [***];

University means [***];

Valid Claim means in respect of each country or territory within the Territory:

 

(i)

any claim of any issued and unexpired patent comprised within the Compound Patents and/ or the Research Patents; and

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

9

---

(ii)

any claim contained within any subsisting patent application comprised within the Compound Patents and/ or the Research Patents,

which relates to that country or territory and which has not been abandoned or allowed to lapse or finally rejected or declared invalid by a patent office or by a court of competent jurisdiction in an unappealed or unappealable decision; and

Variation Date means 15th March 2012.

 

1.2	Words denoting the singular include the plural and vice versa, words denoting a gender include all genders, and words denoting persons include corporations and all other legal entities.

 

1.3	Unless the context otherwise requires, a reference in this Agreement to any Clause will be deemed to be a reference to the relevant clause of this Agreement.

 

1.4	The headings are inserted for ease of reference only and will not affect the interpretation or construction of this Agreement.

 

1.5	References in this Agreement to the word “include” or “including” are to be construed without limitation to the generality of the preceding words.

 

1.6

Any reference to any English term for any action, remedy, method or judicial proceeding, legal document, legal status, court, official or any legal concept or thing will in respect of any jurisdiction other than England be deemed to include what most nearly approximates in that jurisdiction to the English term.

 

2.

TERM

 

2.1

This Agreement will commence on the Commencement Date and, subject to earlier termination under Clauses 15 (Termination) or 17 (Force Majeure) the licences granted under this Agreement will continue in full force and effect separately in each country or territory within the Territory, until the later of (as applicable):

 

2.1.1

the date on which all of the Compound Patents and Research Patents which relate to that country or territory have either expired or been held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction in an unappealed or unappealable decision or

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

10

---

been allowed to lapse or been abandoned or been finally rejected by the relevant patent office and any period for appeal or opposition in relation to the rejection has expired; or

 

2.1.2

provided the Technical Information remains secret and is not put into the public domain (other than by BioMed or its Sub-Licensees) or is covered by any period of data exclusivity, ten (10) years from the date of first commercial sale of a Product which has an appropriate product licence granted by a statutory regulatory authority in the relevant country or territory.

 

2.2

Unless earlier terminated pursuant to Clauses 15 or 17, this Agreement will terminate when all of the licences granted under this Agreement have expired in all countries and territories within the Territory. For the avoidance of doubt, the licence will not expire in a country if a Valid Claim exists in that country even though, following execution of the Assignment Agreement, the Valid Claim forms part of the Assigned IP and not part of the Licensed IP.

 

3.	GRANT OF LICENCE AND ASSIGNMENT

 

3.1

ProTides hereby grants to BioMed, and BioMed hereby accepts, an exclusive royalty bearing licence to use, and subject to Clause 5 of this Agreement to grant sub-licences to third parties to use, the Licensed IP for all purposes, including researching and developing pharmaceutical products comprising Compounds for all and any therapeutic, diagnostic, prognostic and prophylactic indications and thereafter the manufacture, marketing, distribution and sale of such pharmaceutical products in the Territory, on the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement.

 

3.2

ProTides will not (except as expressly permitted under other provisions of this Agreement) during the period of this Agreement use, or grant to any person or entity a licence or other right to use, the Compounds, the Assigned IP, the Licensed IP and/ or the Research Patents and/ or Research IP for any purpose whatsoever.

 

3.3	On or immediately after the Variation Date, ProTides shall enter into an assignment in the form set out in Part 4 of the Schedule to this Agreement pursuant to which ProTides will assign to BioMed all of ProTides’ right, title and interest in the Compound Patents to BioMed.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

11

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4.	SUPPLY OF TECHNICAL INFORMATION AND COMPOUNDS

 

4.1	ProTides will give BioMed reasonable access to the Technical Information (in written form if available and reasonably requested by BioMed) and will use all reasonable endeavours to answer reasonably promptly all queries received from BioMed regarding the Technical Information.

 

4.2

ProTides undertakes to BioMed that if it or any of its sub-contractors requires to obtain stocks of active ingredients in order to synthesise the compounds to be supplied to BioMed or to be used by ProTides or its sub-contractors to conduct work pursuant to the Research Workplan it will ensure that such stocks are sourced from an authorised distributor.

 

5.	LICENSING AND SUB-LICENSING

 

5.1	BioMed will be entitled to grant to third parties (which includes Affiliates of BioMed) licences and/or sub-licences of the Agreement IP and/ or its rights under this Agreement, provided always that BioMed complies with the provisions of Clauses 5.2 and 5.3.

 

5.2

BioMed acknowledges that each third party to whom BioMed grants a licence and/or sub-licence of its rights to use any of the Agreement IP may (if BioMed grants such third party the right to do so) grant further sub-licences of its rights to use the Agreement IP but that any sub-sub-licensees appointed by such third parties will not have the right to grant further sub-licences, and this restriction on sub-sub-licensees granting further sub-licences of their rights to use the Agreement IP will be reflected in each Sub-Licence Agreement.

 

5.3	BioMed agrees that it will:

 

5.3.1

enter into an appropriate written agreement with each third party to whom it grants a licence and/or sub-licence of its rights to use the Agreement IP setting out the terms on which the Sub-Licensee is entitled to use (and grant sub-licences to third parties to use) the Agreement IP;

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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5.3.2

procure that any third party to whom it grants a licence and/or sub-licence of its rights to use the Agreement IP enters into an appropriate written agreement with each sub-sub-licensee to whom that third party grants a sub-licence of its rights to use the Agreement IP setting out the terms on which the sub-sub-licensee is entitled to use the Agreement IP;

 

5.3.3

use reasonable efforts to [***]. ProTides acknowledges and agrees that notwithstanding this Clause 5.3.3, but subject to the other provisions of this Clause 5, BioMed will have sole discretion in relation to the terms, financial or otherwise, on which it grants any licence and/or sub-licence of its rights in relation to the Agreement IP [***];

 

5.3.4

notify ProTides of the grant of each licence and/or sub-licence, such notification to include a copy of the agreement with each Sub-Licensee, within [***] of execution;

 

5.3.5

ensure that the provisions of the Sub-Licence Agreement are consistent with all relevant provisions of this Agreement. [***];

 

5.3.6

ensure that the Sub-Licence Agreement imposes obligations of confidentiality on the Sub-Licensee which are no less onerous than those set out in Clause 14;

 

5.3.7

except for licences and/or sub-licences granted to Affiliates of BioMed, only enter into bona-fide Sub-Licence Agreements with third parties on an arm’s-length basis; and

 

5.3.8

ensure that any licences and/or sub-licences granted by BioMed to Affiliates which are not on an arm’s length basis are terminated if the relevant Affiliate is no longer a member of the BioMed group, which will for these purposes be deemed to comprise (i) any parent company of BioMed, (ii) all subsidiaries of Bio-Med, and (iii) all subsidiaries of any parent company of BioMed.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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5.4	BioMed shall procure that each Sub-Licensee complies fully at all times with the provisions of its Sub-Licence Agreement.

 

5.5

BioMed shall be responsible to ProTides for all acts and/or omissions of each Sub-Licensee as if such acts or omissions had been made by BioMed. ProTides acknowledges that if any act or omission of a Sub-Licensee is deemed to be a material breach of this Agreement by BioMed, BioMed and/ or the Sub-Licensee will have an opportunity to remedy the material breach on the same basis as would apply if the act or omission had been committed by BioMed.

 

5.6

ProTides acknowledges and agrees that the restrictions contained in Clauses 5.1 to 5.3 (inclusive) will not apply to any licences and/or sub-licences to use the Agreement IP granted by BioMed or its Sub-Licensees to any third party sub-contractors for the sole purpose of enabling the third party sub-contractor to provide any Sub-Contracting Services for BioMed or the Sub-Licensee (as the case may be).

 

6.	JOINT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

 

6.1	BioMed and ProTides will establish a joint management committee (the “JMC”) to oversee conduct of the Research Work.

 

6.2	Each party will:

 

6.2.1

nominate [***] to participate as members of the JMC;

 

6.2.2

notify the other party of its initial [***] for the JMC within [***] following the Commencement Date and provide contact details (including a telephone number and email address) for its members;

 

6.2.3

keep the other party and the then current members of the JMC advised of any changes to its members and/ or the contact details for any of its members.

One of [***] members shall be the Principal Investigator.

 

6.3	[***] will designate one of its members to act as the chairman or chairwoman (as the case may be) of the JMC (“the JMC Chair”).

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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6.4

The JMC will meet at least [***] during the period that the Research Work is ongoing. Meetings will be organised by the JMC Chair and may take place in person or by telephone or video conferencing, provided that at least [***] the JMC will meet in person. Each party shall bear all costs incurred by its members for attendance at and travel to meetings of the JMC. The JMC Chair will consult with [***] nominated representatives as to the date and location of meetings of the JMC and will take reasonable account of [***] nominated representatives’ other work related commitments when organising such meetings. The quorum for meetings of the JMC will be at least [***] appointed by each party.

 

6.5	The JMC’s responsibilities will include:

 

6.5.1

subject to Clause 6.6, discussing and agreeing promptly following the Commencement Date a workplan setting out in reasonable detail the research work to be conducted by ProTides on BioMed’s behalf during the [***] of the Agreement, the timescales for completion thereof, the deliverables to be provided by ProTides to BioMed and the budget for such research work;

 

6.5.2

subject to Clause 6.6, agreeing and documenting prior to each [***] of the Commencement Date any amendments and extensions to the Research Workplan as necessary to cover the research work to be conducted by ProTides during, and to set the budget for such work for, the forthcoming [***] period;

 

6.5.3

overseeing ProTides’ performance of the Research Work and monitoring progress and the results thereof; and

 

6.5.4

subject to Clause 6.6, considering and approving any changes to the Research Workplan (including any amendments to the Staff Costs or the budget for the Research Work) proposed by ProTides pursuant to Clause 7.9.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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6.6	Notwithstanding the foregoing, each party acknowledges that:

 

6.6.1

the JMC will have no power to agree any changes to the terms of this Agreement or to give any consents or notifications required to be given by or to either party under this Agreement;

 

6.6.2

the JMC will have no power to oblige ProTides to undertake any work:-

 

(a)

which is outside the scope of its expertise; and/or

 

(b)

for which a fair and reasonable compensation package has not been agreed between the parties in writing; and

 

6.6.3

the budget for the Research Work to be conducted by ProTides during the [***] of this Agreement and thereafter, the scope of the Research Workplan and any amendments or extensions of the Research Workplan (including setting of and any changes to the Staff Costs and/ or the budget for the Research Work) agreed by the JMC pursuant to Clauses 6.5.2 and 6.5.4 will require both ProTides and BioMed’s prior written approval.

 

6.7	[***] will ensure that the JMC Chair:

 

6.7.1

circulates minutes of each meeting of the JMC to all members within [***] [***] following the date of the relevant meeting; and

 

6.7.2

circulates a written agenda to each member at least [***] in advance of each meeting of the JMC.

 

6.8

All decisions of the JMC will be made by consensus. If, after reasonable discussion, consensus cannot be achieved on any decision, the relevant decision will be referred to each party’s Chief Executive Officer for determination. If the Chief Executive Officers of the parties cannot after reasonable efforts reach agreement on the referred issue, [***] will, subject always to the provisions of Clause 6.6, have the deciding vote. For the avoidance of doubt, [***] cannot use its deciding vote to decide any of the matters specified in Clause 6.6, each of which must be expressly agreed in writing by the parties.

 

6.9	The JMC will continue to operate at all times whilst ProTides is conducting the Research Work.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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7.	CONDUCT OF THE RESEARCH WORK

 

7.1	ProTides will at all times conduct the Research Work in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, including the Research Workplan, and in line with any directions received from the JMC.

 

7.2	The Research Work will commence promptly following the JMC reaching agreement on the Research Workplan pursuant to Clause 6.5.1 and BioMed and ProTides approving the scope of and budget for the Research Work pursuant to Clause 6.6.3.

 

7.3

Subject to Clause 7.6, during the Initial Period, BioMed will not be entitled to terminate the Research Work, except if BioMed terminates this Agreement in its entirety pursuant to Clause 15. Following the Initial Period, BioMed may terminate the Research Work, at its sole discretion, at any time by serving not less than [***] written notice of termination on ProTides. If BioMed terminates the Research Work, this Clause 7 (other than Clause 7.8.3) will cease to have effect and the terms of Clause 16.3 will apply, but the other terms of this Agreement will continue in full force and effect.

 

7.4

BioMed acknowledges that ProTides may sub-contract the Research Work to the University and/or to [***]. ProTides will not sub-contract any part of the Research Work to any third party other than the University or [***] without first obtaining BioMed’s prior written consent. ProTides will enter into an appropriate written agreement with each third party (including the University and [***]) to whom it sub-contracts any part of the Research Work confirming that:

 

7.4.1

all right, title and interest in and to any Research IP generated or derived by that sub-contractor (and any personnel engaged by that sub-contractor to work on the Research Work) will be owned by BioMed; and

 

7.4.2

such sub-contractor will keep all Technical Information, Research IP and information relating to the Research Work confidential and will not use the Technical Information and/ or Research IP for any purpose other than conducting the Research Work, in accordance with the terms set out in Clause 14.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

17

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7.5	ProTides will:

 

7.5.1

be responsible for all and any sums payable to any sub-contractors including the University and [***] in relation to performance of any part of the Research Work;

 

7.5.2

procure that each sub-contractor complies fully at all times with the provisions of its sub-contract agreement; and

 

7.5.3

be responsible to BioMed for all acts and/or omissions of each sub-contractor as if such acts or omissions had been made by ProTides.

 

7.6

The Research Work (including any work sub-contracted to the University, [***] or any other third party pursuant to Clause 7.4) will be performed under the supervision and direction of the Principal Investigator. If at any time during the period of this Agreement the Principal Investigator is unable or unwilling to continue with supervision and direction of the Research Work or to participate as a member of the JMC, ProTides will promptly notify BioMed of this fact and, in consultation with BioMed, will endeavour to appoint a successor as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter. If an appropriate successor acceptable to both parties cannot be found within [***] following ProTides’ notification, BioMed may terminate the Research Work with immediate effect by serving a written notice on ProTides. If BioMed terminates the Research Work, this Clause 7 (other than Clause 7.8.3) will cease to have effect and the terms of Clause 16.3 will apply, but the other terms of this Agreement will continue in full force and effect.

 

7.7

ProTides will ensure that all personnel engaged by it or by any of its sub-contractors to undertake the Research Work are appropriately experienced and trained. ProTides will promptly following BioMed’s request supply to BioMed details of the scientific qualifications and grade of the scientist(s) engaged by ProTides and/ or any of its sub-contractors to perform the Research Work. ProTides will ensure that its and its sub-contractor’s personnel engaged on the Research Work keep detailed written laboratory notebooks and other records and reports of their progress with, and the results of, the Research Work in accordance with good industry practice, and that such laboratory notebooks are signed, witnessed and dated daily in accordance with good academic and scientific practice.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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7.8	ProTides will provide to the JMC and to BioMed (in BioMed’s case, promptly on request):

 

7.8.1

within [***] following the end of each Quarter during the period when the Research Work is ongoing a written interim report summarising its progress with, and the results of, the Research Work in the relevant Quarter;

 

7.8.2

within [***] following completion of the Research Work a written report summarising in full its progress with, and the results of, the Research Work;

 

7.8.3

[***], a copy of all results and other data and records generated by ProTides and the University and any other approved sub-contractors in the course of performing the Research Work.

 

7.9

[***] will keep the Research Workplan under review and promptly notify the JMC of all and any amendments to the Research Workplan, including any changes to the budgets and/ or timelines contained in the Research Workplan, which [***] believes are reasonably necessary in light of the ongoing results of the Research Work or other extraneous circumstances occurring during the Research Work. All changes to the Research Workplan will require the JMC’s and the parties’ prior written consent.

 

7.10	ProTides will regularly consult with, and take reasonable account of all comments received from, the JMC in relation to the conduct of and progress with the Research Work.

 

7.11	ProTides will (and will ensure that the University, [***] and any other approved sub-contractors) carry out its (and their) responsibilities in connection with the Research Work:

 

7.11.1

diligently, with reasonable skill and care and using reasonable efforts to ensure that appropriate levels of expertise and personnel are contributed to conduct the Research Work in a proper and efficient manner; and

 

7.11.2

in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations including all FDA, EMEA and ICH guidelines and the terms of this Agreement.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

19

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7.12	The parties acknowledge that:-

 

7.12.1

the Research Work is a research project and as with any research project, notwithstanding the Research Work being properly conducted by ProTides in accordance with the Research Workplan and the terms of this Agreement, the objectives of the Research Work may not be achievable and the therefore the result of cannot be guaranteed within a particular timeframe or at all;

 

7.12.2

ProTides is not able to undertake its responsibilities under the Research Workplan in accordance with good laboratory practice; and

 

7.12.3

any samples of compounds manufactured and supplied by ProTides to BioMed will not be manufactured in accordance with GMP.

 

7.13	If at any time [***], provided that in each case:

 

7.13.1

ProTides’ and/ or the University’s (as the case may be) bid for such work is [***];

 

7.13.2

ProTides and/ or the University (as the case may be) is [***]; and

 

7.13.3

ProTides’ and/ or the University’s (as the case may be) [***].

 

7.14	ProTides acknowledges that if:

 

7.14.1

ProTides’ and/ or the University’s (as the case may be) bid for any medicinal chemistry work is [***];

 

7.14.2

ProTides and/ or the University is/are [***]; and/ or

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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7.14.3

[***],

BioMed will be entitled to employ, contract or otherwise instruct or utilise a third party to carry out any such medicinal chemistry research activities in relation to the Compounds, [***].

 

7.15

If and when requested to do so by [***],[***] will, subject to receiving reasonable written notice and during normal business hours, allow an independent accountant appointed by [***] access to inspect [***] records to verify that the terms on which any third party has been appointed by [***] to carry out medicinal chemistry research activities in relation to the Compounds [***]. Any independent accountant appointed by [***] pursuant to this Clause 7.15 will enter into a confidentiality agreement with [***] in terms of which the independent accountant will agree to keep all information gained from inspection of [***] records confidential and not to disclose and/ or use any such information for any purpose other than confirming to [***] whether [***]has complied with its obligations [***]. [***] acknowledges that such independent accountant will not be entitled to disclose to [***] the actual terms upon which [***] has appointed any third party to carry out medicinal chemistry research activities in relation to the Compounds.

 

8.	BIOMED RESPONSIBILITIES

 

8.1	BioMed will be responsible [***] for (and will have sole discretion, subject to Clause 8.3, in relation to):-

 

8.1.1

evaluation of the Compounds to determine which (if any) are suitable candidates for further research as pharmaceutical products and selection of any lead candidates;

 

8.1.2

determining the strategy and timing for, and overseeing the conduct and management of, the pre-clinical and clinical research and/ or development of Products, [***];

 

8.1.3

[***];

 

8.1.4

the manufacture, distribution, marketing, sale and supply of Products; and

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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8.1.5

reviewing the ongoing results of the Research Work and determining the patenting strategy for any patentable inventions comprised within the Research IP.

 

8.2	BioMed will provide to ProTides [***] a [***] report which provides ProTides with an update regarding BioMed’s and/or that of its Sub-Licensees progress with its efforts with the activities set out in Clause 8.1.

 

8.3	BioMed will, during the period of this Agreement, use [***] efforts to research and develop Products and thereafter to obtain regulatory approvals for the Products and to [***] sales of the Products in major pharmaceutical markets.

 

8.4	Without prejudice to the generality of Clause 8.3, BioMed agrees that it shall use [***] efforts to ensure that [***] within [***] of the Commencement Date. For these purposes “[***]” means [***].

 

8.5	BioMed will promptly notify ProTides in writing of the [***] by BioMed or its Sub-Licensees anywhere in the Territory. BioMed will promptly notify ProTides in writing when [***] occur.

 

8.6	BioMed will, during the period of this Agreement, [***] with all relevant legislation, rules, regulations and statutory requirements relating to the [***] of Products.

 

8.7

ProTides acknowledges that BioMed’s ability to properly perform its duties under this Clause 8 is dependent upon [***]. BioMed will not be liable for any breach of or failure to perform its obligations under this Clause 8 to the extent that such breach or failure of performance is the result of [***].

 

9.

DELETED

 

10.	FINANCIAL PROVISIONS

 

10.1	Subject to Clause 6.6.3, [***] will:

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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10.1.1

reimburse [***] for all reasonable costs (other than [***]) actually incurred by [***] (but excluding [***]) in connection with performance of the Research Work in accordance with the budget set out in the Research Workplan; and

 

10.1.2

unless otherwise agreed with [***] and for so long as the relevant scientists are engaged in performing the Research Work reimburse [***] for [***] in accordance with the terms set out in [***] of the Schedule.

[***] will invoice [***] for such costs [***]. Except in the case of a manifest error or a bona fide dispute as to the amount properly due, [***] will pay all such invoices within [***] following receipt.

 

10.2	In consideration of the execution of the Assignment Agreement and licence rights granted to BioMed under this Agreement, BioMed will pay to ProTides the following milestone payments:

 

10.2.1

[***];

 

10.2.2

[***];

 

10.2.3

[***];

 

10.2.4

[***];

 

10.2.5

[***];

 

10.2.6

[***];

 

10.2.7

[***];

 

10.2.8

[***];

 

10.2.9

[***]; and

 

10.2.10

[***].

For the purposes of this Clause, “[***]” will be deemed to mean [***], “[***]” is [***] and “[***]” will be deemed to mean [***].

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

23

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10.3	The payments referred to in Clauses 10.2.2, 10.2.4, 10.2.6, 10.2.8, and 10.2.10 will be due for [***]. For example, [***].

 

10.4	Each of the payments referred to in Sub-Clauses 10.2.1 to 10.2.10 (inclusive) will be paid in [***]. [***].

 

10.5	In further consideration of execution of the Assignment Agreement and the licence rights granted to BioMed under this Agreement, BioMed will pay to ProTides subject to Clause 10.6 and in accordance with Clause 10.7:

 

10.5.1

royalties at the following rates in respect of all Net Sales and [***] Sales generated by BioMed and any Sub-Licensees which are Affiliates of BioMed and which sub-licences have not been entered into on an arm’s length basis in each calendar year during the period of this Agreement:

 

[***] Net Sales and [***] Sales in each calendar year, to be calculated on a [***] basis		Royalty Rate
Up to [***] United States Dollars ($[***]USD)		[***] percent ([***]%)
[***] United States Dollars ($[***] USD) up to [***] United States Dollars ($[***] USD)		[***] percent ([***]%)
[***] United States Dollars ($[***] USD) up to [***] Million United States Dollars ($[***] USD)		[***] percent ([***]%)
[***] United States Dollars ($[***] USD) up to [***] United States Dollars ($[***] USD)		[***] percent ([***]%)
In excess of [***] United States Dollars ($[***] USD)		[***] percent ([***]%)

 

10.5.2

royalties at a rate to be calculated as follows in respect of Net Sales and [***] Sales generated by each Sub-Licensee (other than Sub-Licensees which are Affiliates of BioMed and which sub-licences have not been entered into on an arm’s length basis) in each calendar year of this Agreement:

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

24

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Royalty rate = [***]

Where:

A= [***] percent ([***]%)

B= the actual royalty rate to be applied to the relevant Sub-Licensee’s Net Sales and/or [***] Sales in the relevant calendar year in calculating sums due to BioMed in respect thereof.

If the value of B in the Sub-Licence Agreement is not a fixed amount but changes depending on, for example, the amount of cumulative sales or other criteria then a separate calculation of the royalty rate will be made for each category for which the value of B is variable.

For example:

 

(i)

if BioMed is due royalties from a Sub-Licensee equivalent to [***] ([***])% of a Sub-Licensee’s Net Sales and/or [***] Sales in the relevant calendar year, the royalty rate for the purposes of this Clause 10.5.2 will be calculated as follows:

[***]

and accordingly the sum payable by BioMed to ProTides will be [***]% of the Net Sales and [***] Sales generated by the relevant Sub-Licensee in the relevant calendar year;

 

(ii)

if BioMed is due royalties from a Sub-Licensee equivalent to [***] ([***])% of the Sub-Licensee’s Net Sales and/or [***] Sales in the relevant calendar year, the royalty rate for the purposes of this Clause 10.5.2 will be calculated as follows:

[***]

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

25

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and accordingly the sum payable by BioMed to ProTides will be [***]% of the Net Sales and [***] Sales generated by the relevant Sub-Licensee in the relevant calendar year; and

 

(iii)

if BioMed is due royalties from a Sub-Licensee equivalent to [***] percent ([***]%) on the first $[***] of the Sub-Licensee’s Net Sales in each year and twelve percent ([***]%) thereafter, then the royalty rates will be calculated as follows:

[***] of the Sub-Licensee’s Net Sales in the relevant calendar year, and

[***] Net Sales generated by the Sub-Licensee in the relevant calendar year.

 

10.6

If in any country or territory there is [***], then the royalty rate payable by BioMed in respect of Net Sales and/ or [***] Sales of the relevant Product in the relevant country or territory will be [***] percent ([***]%) and the Net Sales and/ or [***] Sales of the relevant Product in the relevant country or territory will be [***] for the purposes of Clause 10.5.

 

10.7	The royalty payments due to ProTides pursuant to Clauses 10.5 and 10.6 will be paid within [***] following the end of [***] in which;-

 

10.7.1

in respect of Net Sales and [***] Sales generated by BioMed and any Sub-Licensees which are Affiliates of BioMed and which sub-licences have not been entered into on an arm’s length basis, the Net Sales and [***] Sales were actually received by BioMed and the relevant Sub-Licensees; and

 

10.7.2

in respect of Net Sales and [***] Sales generated by each Sub-Licensee (other than Sub-Licensees which are Affiliates of BioMed and which sub-licences have not been entered into on an arm’s length basis), the sums payable to BioMed in respect of such Net Sales and [***] Sales were actually received by BioMed, unless the sums payable to BioMed in respect of such Net Sales and [***] Sales are less than the amounts which BioMed is due to pay to ProTides in respect of such Net Sales and [***] Sales, in which case the royalty payments due to ProTides in respect of such Net Sales and [***]

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

26

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Sales will be paid within [***] following the end of [***] in which the relevant Net Sales and [***] Sales were actually received by the relevant Sub-Licensee.

 

10.8	Each royalty will be accompanied by a written statement showing the following for each and every Product:

 

10.8.1

[***];

 

10.8.2

[***];

 

10.8.3

[***];

 

10.8.4

[***];

 

10.8.5

[***];

 

10.8.6

[***];

 

10.8.7

[***];

 

10.8.8

[***];

 

10.8.9

[***]; and

 

10.8.10

[***].

 

10.9	All payments due to ProTides under this Agreement will be paid by electronic transfer to the following bank account:-

 

Sort Code:		[***]
Account No:		[***]
Bank:		[***]
Account Name:		[***]
IBAN:		[***]

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

27

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All charges for electronic transfer of funds to the foregoing account levied by [***] bank will be borne by [***]. All charges for electronic transfer of funds to the foregoing account levied by [***] bank will be paid by [***].

 

10.10

All royalties payable under Clause 10.5 will be paid in [***] and, if any sums on which royalties are payable are received in a currency other than [***], they will be converted into [***] using the daily 12 noon buying rate in New York, as certified by the New York Federal Reserve Bank, for that currency on the last business day of [***] in respect of which the royalties are due.

 

10.11

BioMed will, and will ensure that its Sub-Licensees will, for a period of [***] following the end of the year to which the relevant books and records relate, keep appropriate books and records of all its (and their) Net Sales and [***] Sales, and all sums paid to BioMed by its Sub-Licensees, in sufficient detail to enable the royalties payable to ProTides under this Agreement to be calculated. BioMed will, and will procure that its Sub-Licensees will, allow ProTides at BioMed or its Sub-Licensees’ discretion, an independent auditor appointed by ProTides on giving reasonable notice [***] access to inspect such books and records for the purpose of verifying the sums due to ProTides under this Agreement. ProTides will ensure that any auditor whom it appoints to inspect BioMed’s and/ or its Sub-Licensees books and records for the purpose of verifying the royalties due to ProTides under this Agreement treats such books and records as the confidential information of BioMed and/ or the Sub-Licensee (as the case may be) and does not disclose any information contained in such records to any third party other than ProTides and its other professional advisers, and then only to the extent required to verify whether BioMed has complied with its obligations under this Agreement. All fees and expenses relating to audits of BioMed’s books and records performed by ProTides or any independent auditor will be the sole responsibility of ProTides unless there is an error of more than [***]% in any amount due or paid to ProTides in which case BioMed shall [***] pay to ProTides the [***] external costs of the audit. If ProTide’s inspection shows that BioMed has paid more than the amounts properly due under this Agreement then BioMed shall be entitled at its option to either deduct such excess from any sums payable to ProTides’ under this Agreement or to reclaim the overpayment from ProTides. If ProTides’

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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inspection reveals a deficit then, without prejudice to any other right or remedy available to ProTides, BioMed shall [***] make good the deficit and pay interest on the deficit at the rate specified in this Agreement from the date upon which the deficit arose to the date upon which the deficit was paid.

 

10.12

Interest at the rate of [***] per cent ([***]%) per annum above the base rate from time to time of The Royal Bank of Scotland plc will be due and payable on all sums due under this Agreement from the due date for payment until settlement in full.

 

10.13

All payments due to ProTides under this Agreement will be made [***]. If BioMed is required by law to make any deduction or to withhold any part of any amount due to ProTides under this Agreement, BioMed will promptly account to the relevant tax or other authority for the full amount of the deduction or withholding, give to ProTides proper evidence of the amount deducted or withheld and payment of that amount to the relevant taxation or other authority, and will use reasonable endeavours to enable or assist ProTides to claim exemption from or, if that is not possible, to obtain a credit for the amount deducted or withheld under any applicable double taxation or similar agreement from time to time in force.

 

10.14

The amounts paid by BioMed to Protides pursuant to this Clause 10 will be deemed to be Confidential Information disclosed to Protides by BioMed and will be kept confidential by ProTides in accordance with Clause 14.

 

10.15

The amounts specified in this Agreement are exclusive of VAT or any other sales tax or duties which, if payable, shall be paid by the payer in addition to the sums in respect of which they are due.

 

11.	INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

 

11.1	ProTides will:

 

11.1.1

ensure that all right, title and property in and to any Research IP, [***], is assigned to and vests fully in BioMed; and

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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11.1.2

not assign, or grant any right or interest in, any of the Licensed IP to any third party without first obtaining BioMed’s prior written consent, which consent it will be in BioMed’s sole discretion to refuse.

 

11.2	ProTides will promptly on BioMed’s request:

 

11.2.1

execute all documents reasonably required to give effect to the licences granted to BioMed under Clause 3.1 and to enable registration of the licences at the relevant patent offices; and

 

11.2.2

do all such things and execute all such further documents, forms and authorisations as may be required to vest the whole property, right, title and interest in and to the Research IP and Research Patents in BioMed absolutely, and to enable BioMed to record the assignation of the Research Patents at the relevant patent registries, including executing formal assignations.

 

11.3	ProTides acknowledges that BioMed will be free to file patent applications in its own name in respect of any (i) new uses of the Compounds, (ii) the Research IP, and/ or (iii) Products developed by BioMed.

 

12.

PATENTING

 

12.1	ProTides acknowledges that BioMed will be entitled at any time and in its sole discretion to prepare and file:

 

12.1.1

in the name of ProTides, [***] (“Compound Divisionals”); and

 

12.1.2

in its own name, patent applications for any patentable inventions comprised within the Research IP.

 

12.2	ProTides will promptly:

 

12.2.1

on BioMed’s request [***] provide (and ensure that all inventors named on the Compound Patents or the Research Patents (as the case may be) provide) to BioMed all information, documentation and assistance (including executing documents) which BioMed may reasonably require to enable it to file any Compound Divisionals and/ or the Research Patents;

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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12.2.2

on BioMed’s request [***] provide (and use reasonable endeavours to ensure that all inventors named on the Compound Patents or the Research Patents (as the case may be) provide) to BioMed all information, documentation and assistance (including executing documents) which BioMed may reasonably require to enable it to prosecute any Compound Divisionals and/ or the Research Patents; and.

 

12.2.3

following the Commencement Date [***] take all steps necessary to (in so far as not already undertaken prior to the Commencement Date):

 

(a)

obtain written confirmatory assignments from each inventor named on the patent applications listed in Part 1 of the Schedule of all rights in and to such patent applications; and

 

(b)

record and register the assignation of the whole right, title and interest in and to the Compound Patents from [***] to ProTides at all appropriate patent offices.

BioMed will on ProTides’ request use its [***] endeavours to assist ProTides to undertake the actions specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) above, however the responsibility for fulfilling the obligations remains solely with ProTides.

 

12.3	ProTides will keep BioMed regularly informed regarding its progress with its obligations under this Clause and will promptly confirm to BioMed in writing once these obligations have been fulfilled.

 

12.4	BioMed will subject to ProTides timeously fulfilling its obligations under Clause 12.2 during the period of this Agreement at [***]:

 

12.4.1

prosecute and maintain [***];

 

12.4.2

use its [***] endeavours to obtain the maximum possible protection [***];

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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12.4.3

as and when appropriate file applications for supplementary protection certificates and other extensions of term [***]; and

 

12.4.4

ensure that all filing and renewal fees necessary to prosecute and maintain [***] are paid timeously.

 

12.5

ProTides acknowledges that subject to [***], BioMed will have sole discretion and control in relation to the patenting strategy for the Research Patents and/ or Compound Patents and any decision which requires to be taken with regard to filing, prosecution and maintenance of the Research Patents and/ or the Compound Patents in all relevant countries and territories.

 

12.6	BioMed will:

 

12.6.1

[***];

 

12.6.2

[***]; and

 

12.6.3

[***].

 

12.7

BioMed will during the period of this Agreement have the right (but not the obligation) to take any action, legal or otherwise (including commencing and conducting relevant court proceedings in its own name or in the joint names of the parties), as may be necessary or expedient to prevent or stop any infringement of the Agreement IP and/or to defend the Agreement IP against any challenge to validity or ownership. Unless otherwise agreed with ProTides, all costs associated with BioMed’s taking any action or commencing or conducting any proceedings under this Clause 12.7 will be paid by BioMed. If BioMed commences or becomes involved in any action pursuant to this Clause 12.7 it will use reasonable endeavours to pursue and complete the proceedings to the extent reasonably possible in a manner which protects the commercial interests of both parties.

 

12.8	Each party will notify the other party of any:

 

12.8.1

actual, threatened or suspected infringement of the Agreement IP; and

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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12.8.2

proceedings commenced against it in which the validity or ownership of any of the Compound Patents or Research Patents is challenged,

and provide all details relating thereto in its possession, as soon as reasonably practicable after it becomes aware of such matters.

 

12.9	ProTides will on BioMed’s request and [***] provide to BioMed all information, documentation and assistance (including executing documents) which BioMed may reasonably require to enable it to take any action or commence or conduct any proceedings pursuant to Clause 12.7.

 

12.10

BioMed will:

 

12.10.1

[***]; and

 

12.10.2

[***].

 

12.11

Any monies received by or sums awarded to BioMed in settlement of or as compensation, costs or damages as a result of taking any action or commencing or conducting any proceedings under Clause 12.7 will belong solely to BioMed with the exception of monies or sums:

 

12.11.1

designated by the court in the relevant award or allocated in the relevant settlement agreement as representing lost royalties or an account of profits which will be regarded for the purpose of Clause 10.5 as Net Sales generated by BioMed in [***] in which the relevant monies or sums were actually received by BioMed; and

 

12.11.2

in respect of attorney’s fees and costs relating to such actions or proceedings which shall be shared between BioMed and ProTides pro rata based upon the amount of attorney’s fees and costs incurred by each of them (in ProTides’ case, to the extent such fees and costs have not previously been reimbursed to ProTides by BioMed and provided that such fees have been previously agreed with BioMed).

 

12.12

If BioMed does not take any action to prevent or stop any infringement of the Agreement IP and/or to defend the Agreement IP against any challenge to validity or

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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ownership within [***] following the written notice pursuant to Clause 12.8 or at least [***] prior to the deadline for taking action in the relevant proceedings, whichever deadline occurs earlier, ProTides will have the right to take such action or defend such challenge at its own expense, in which case, ProTides will be entitled to retain all amounts recovered in taking such action and BioMed will comply with the terms of Clause 12.10 as if the names of the parties in that Clause had been swapped.

 

13.	WARRANTIES AND LIABILITIES

 

13.1	Each party hereby warrants to the other that it has full power and authority to enter into and to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

13.2	ProTides hereby warrants to BioMed that as at the Commencement Date:-

 

13.2.1

it has all necessary rights and authorities to grant to BioMed the licences contained in Clause 3.1 and to fulfil its obligations under this Agreement;

 

13.2.2

it has not granted to any third party any licence or right to use, or any option to obtain a licence or right to use, the Agreement IP for any purpose whatsoever;

 

13.2.3

it is the sole and exclusive owner of all right, title and interest in and to the patents and patent applications listed in Part 1 of the Schedule and the Technical Information and there are no third parties with any rights in or to the Agreement IP, including any right granted to any third party to have the Agreement IP (or any part thereof) assigned or transferred to it;

 

13.2.4

it is not aware, such awareness to be based on the information actually in the possession of ProTides, having made reasonable enquiry of [***], [***], the Principal Investigator and the inventors listed on the Compound Patents listed in Part 1 of the Schedule of any intellectual property rights of ProTides, [***], the University or [***] (but, in the case of enquiries made of the University or [***], limited to intellectual property rights

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

34

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generated in the laboratory of the Principal Investigator) or a third party that would be infringed by BioMed using the Compound Patents to research and develop pharmaceutical products to the extent that they incorporate [***] and thereafter to manufacture, market, distribute and sell such pharmaceutical products;

 

13.2.5

so far as it is aware, such awareness to be based on the information actually in the possession of ProTides, having made reasonable enquiry of [***], [***], the Principal Investigator and the inventors listed on the Compound Patents listed in Part 1 of the Schedule, the Technical Information has been kept confidential and has only been disclosed to third parties under appropriate confidentiality restrictions;

 

13.2.6

the patent applications comprised within the Compound Patents listed in Part 1 of the Schedule are proceeding normally and ProTides is not aware of any reason why the patent applications comprised within the Compound Patents listed in Part 1 of the Schedule may not be granted or if granted, would be open to a challenge on the grounds of invalidity;

 

13.2.7

it has provided to BioMed a copy of all correspondence in its possession to and from the patent agents prosecuting the patent applications comprised within the Compound Patents, including a copy of all patent applications, international search reports and office actions; and

 

13.2.8

other than has previously been disclosed to BioMed in writing, all information provided to BioMed in relation to the Agreement IP is true and accurate in all material respects and all material information in ProTides’ or [***]’ possession relating to the Agreement IP has been disclosed to BioMed in writing prior to the Commencement Date.

 

13.3

ProTides undertakes to BioMed that it will not conduct (or agree to conduct) any work for BioMed pursuant to this Agreement (including the work to be set out in the Research Workplan and any medicinal chemistry research activities pursuant to Clause 7.13) if it does not (or its permitted sub-contractors do not) have all necessary scientific and technical facilities and expertise to be able to properly conduct such work in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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13.4	Nothing in this Agreement will affect either party’s liability to the other or to third parties for death or personal injury resulting from its own or that of its employees’, agents’ or sub-contractors’ negligence which liability will not be limited.

 

13.5

[***].

 

13.6

Each party (the “Indemnifying Party”) will indemnify and hold harmless the other party (the “Indemnified Party”), its directors, officers, shareholders, employees and agents from and against, and be responsible for all claims, demands, losses, costs, damages, actions, suits or proceedings brought or prosecuted by a third party (including reasonable lawyers’ fees and other litigation costs) and all liabilities, losses, costs, and damages incurred by the Indemnified Party, to the extent arising out of the Indemnifying Party’s (or its employees, agents or sub-contractors) negligence or breach of the warranties contained in Clauses 13.1 and 13.2 or the undertaking given in Clause 13.3.

 

13.7

BioMed (the “Indemnifying Party”) will indemnify and hold harmless ProTides (the “Indemnified Party”), its directors, officers, shareholders, employees and agents from and against all claims, demands, losses, costs, damages, actions, suits or proceedings brought or prosecuted by a third (including reasonable lawyers’ fees and other litigation costs) and all liabilities, losses, costs, and damages incurred by the Indemnified Party to the extent arising out of:-

 

13.7.1

[***]; and/or

 

13.7.2

[***],

but excluding any such liability, damages, claims, proceedings, expenses to the extent that they arise as a result of any breach (or any failure to perform) by [***].

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

36

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13.8	Each party’s indemnification obligations under Clauses 13.6 and 13.7 will be subject to the following conditions:-

 

13.8.1

the Indemnified Party will provide the Indemnifying Party with written notice of each claim or liability within [***] after it receives notice of such claim or liability;

 

13.8.2

subject to the Indemnifying Party confirming in writing that the indemnity will apply to the relevant claim or liability, the Indemnifying Party will be solely responsible for the investigation, defence, settlement and discharge of such claim or liability; and

 

13.8.3

the Indemnified Party will at the Indemnifying Party’s cost furnish the Indemnifying Party with all assistance reasonably requested by the Indemnifying Party in connection with the investigation, defence, settlement and discharge of such claim or liability.

The Indemnified Party’s failure to comply with its obligations pursuant to this Clause 13.8 will not constitute a breach of this Agreement or relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations pursuant to Clauses 13.6 or 13.7 except to the extent, if any, that the Indemnifying Party’s defences of the claim, action or proceeding was actually materially impaired thereby.

 

13.9	Each party will obtain and/or maintain at all times during the period of this Agreement general liability insurance in amounts which are [***]. Each party will on request provide written proof of the existence of such insurance to the other party.

 

14.	CONFIDENTIALITY

 

14.1

BioMed will not at any time during the period of this Agreement or thereafter disclose to any third party or use, or permit any person under its control to disclose to any third party, any information of a confidential nature which ProTides may disclose to BioMed during the period of this Agreement (including information relating to the Compounds, the Compound Patents and the Technical Information or ProTides’ business or scientific strategies, opportunities, finances, processes, or other intellectual property) except as expressly or impliedly permitted by this Agreement or as necessary or desirable to enable BioMed to fully exploit its rights under this Agreement or with the prior written consent of ProTides. BioMed will ensure that its

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

37

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employees, agents and representatives to whom confidential information which ProTides may disclose to BioMed during the period of this Agreement is disclosed are made aware of and observe the terms of this Clause 14.1.

 

14.2	ProTides will:

 

14.2.1

not at any time during the period of this Agreement or thereafter disclose to any third party or use, or permit any person under its control to disclose to any third party, any information of a confidential nature which BioMed may disclose to ProTides during the period of this Agreement (including information relating to Products or obtained from inspection of BioMed’s books and records pursuant to Clause 10.11 or information relating to any proposed sub-licensing arrangements and copies of Sub-Licence Agreements provided to ProTides by BioMed pursuant to Clause 5 or BioMed’s business or scientific strategies, opportunities, finances, processes, or intellectual property) except as expressly or impliedly permitted by this Agreement or as necessary to enable ProTides to enforce its rights under this Agreement or to comply with its obligations under this Agreement or with the prior written consent of BioMed; and

 

14.2.2

ensure that its employees, agents and representatives to whom confidential information which BioMed may disclose to ProTides during the period of this Agreement is disclosed are made aware of and observe the terms of this Clause 14.2.

 

14.3	ProTides will:

 

14.3.1

not at any time during the period of this Agreement disclose or use or permit any person under its control to disclose to any third party or use any of the Technical Information except as expressly or impliedly permitted by this Agreement or as necessary to enable ProTides to enforce its rights under this Agreement or to comply with its obligations under this Agreement or with the prior written consent of BioMed; and

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

38

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14.3.2

ensure that its employees, agents and representatives to whom the Technical Information and/ or Research IP is disclosed are made aware of and observe the terms of this Clause 14.3.

 

14.4	The obligations contained in Clauses 14.1 to 14.3 (inclusive) will not apply to any information which the party under the relevant obligation can show by written evidence:

 

14.4.1

is or becomes generally available in the public otherwise than by reason of a breach of confidentiality by the party under the relevant obligation;

 

14.4.2

except in respect of ProTides’ obligations pursuant to Clause 14.3, was known to the party under the relevant obligation and at the relevant party’s free disposal prior to receipt under this Agreement;

 

14.4.3

is subsequently disclosed to the party under the relevant obligation without obligation of confidence by a third party owing no obligation of confidentiality to the other party in respect thereof;

 

14.4.4

is independently developed, discovered or acquired by the party under the relevant obligation without reference to any information covered by an obligation of confidentiality under this Agreement; or

 

14.4.5

is disclosed to the patent office in any country or territory as part of or in furtherance of a patent application comprised within the Licensed IP; or

 

14.4.6

is disclosed to a regulatory agency in any country or territory as part of or in furtherance of an application for marketing authorisation for a Product or any variation of a marketing authorisation received for a Product; or

 

14.4.7

legally requires to be disclosed, provided the party under the legal obligation to disclose provides, to the extent reasonably possible, prompt notice of the legal obligation to disclose to the other party and reasonably cooperates with the other party in seeking to avoid or limit the scope of the disclosure.

 

14.5	Each party will keep the terms of this Agreement confidential and shall not make any public announcement in relation to the entering into of this Agreement without the other party’s prior written consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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14.6	Notwithstanding Clauses 14.1, 14.2, 14.3, and 14.5:

 

14.6.1

BioMed will be entitled to provide a copy of this Agreement and any Confidential Information received from ProTides to its investors, potential investors, Sub-Licensees and potential Sub-Licensees and to its professional advisers, provided that such parties are bound by an appropriate obligation of confidentiality no less onerous than that set out in this Agreement in relation to such disclosure;

 

14.6.2

ProTides will be entitled to provide a copy of this Agreement and any Confidential Information received from BioMed to its investors, potential investors and to its professional advisers, provided that:

 

(a)

such parties are bound by an appropriate obligation of confidentiality no less onerous than that set out in this Agreement in relation to such disclosure; and

 

(b)

ProTides will not under any circumstances disclose the terms of this Agreement and/ or any Confidential Information received from BioMed under this Agreement to any third party (including the University) which is subject to a requirement to disclose information pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act 2002 and/ or Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002; and

 

14.6.3

each party may disclose the terms of this Agreement to any securities exchange or regulatory authority or governmental body to which the relevant party is subject or submits, wherever situated including the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission, the U.K. Stock Exchange Panel or the Panel on Take-overs and Mergers, provided that the relevant party takes full advantage of all provisions to keep confidential as many terms of this Agreement as possible.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

40

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15.	TERMINATION

 

15.1	ProTides may terminate this Agreement forthwith by giving written notice to BioMed if:

 

15.1.1

any sums payable by BioMed under this Agreement remain unpaid [***] after BioMed receiving written notice from ProTides that the relevant sums are overdue for payment; or

 

15.1.2

at any time during the period of this Agreement, BioMed disputes, or directly or indirectly assists a third party to dispute the validity or ownership of the Compound Patents or the Research Patents;

 

15.1.3

BioMed is in breach of Clause 8.4, provided that BioMed has not been prevented from [***]; or

 

15.1.4

[***].

 

15.2	Each party may terminate this Agreement forthwith by giving written notice to the other party if:-

 

15.2.1

the other party commits a material breach of any of the terms of this Agreement (other than a breach of any terms of this Agreement which relate to performance of the Research Work) and, if the material breach is capable of remedy, fails to remedy it within [***] after being given a written notice containing full particulars of the breach and requiring it to be remedied; or

 

15.2.2

an order is made or a resolution is passed for the winding-up of the other party except in the case of a voluntary winding-up for the purposes of a scheme of reconstruction or amalgamation the terms of which have previously been approved in writing by both parties; or

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

41

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15.2.3

an administration order is made, or a petition for such an order is presented, in respect of the other party; or

 

15.2.4

a Receiver (or Administrative Receiver) is appointed in respect of the other party or all or any of its assets; or

 

15.2.5

a voluntary arrangement is proposed under Section 1 of the Insolvency Act 1986 in respect of the other party; or

 

15.2.6

the other party ceases, or threatens to cease to carry on business; or

 

15.2.7

anything analogous to the events described in Clauses 15.2.2 to 15.2.6 occurs in any other jurisdiction.

 

15.3	BioMed may terminate this Agreement forthwith by giving written notice to ProTides if at any time during the period of this Agreement significant safety or ethical concerns arise regarding the use of the Compounds (or any of them) as active ingredients in pharmaceutical products.

 

15.4	For the purposes of Clause 15.2.1, a breach will be considered capable of remedy if the party in breach can comply with the provision in question in all respects other than as to time of performance (provided always that time of performance is not of the essence).

 

16.	EFFECTS OF TERMINATION

 

16.1	Following expiry of the licences granted to BioMed in each country or territory or lawful termination of this Agreement by BioMed pursuant to Clause 15.2.1 (but only as a result of a material breach by ProTides of its obligations under Clauses 3.2, 11.1, 12.2.3, 14.2.1, or 14.3.1):

 

16.1.1

BioMed will within [***] calculate and pay to ProTides all outstanding sums due in respect of the relevant country or territory or under this Agreement up to the date of expiry or termination (as the case may be);

 

16.1.2

subject to fulfilling its obligations under Clause 16.1.1, BioMed will have the full right and entitlement to continue using the Agreement IP (on a non-

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

42

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exclusive basis) for the purpose of developing, manufacturing, marketing, distributing and selling pharmaceutical products incorporating the Compounds as active ingredients in the relevant countries or territories in the case of expiry, without any obligation to make any further financial payment to ProTides and in the case of termination, subject to payment of [***] ([***])% of each payment due under Clause 10 as and when such payments would otherwise have fallen due but for the termination of this Agreement;

 

16.1.3

all sub-licences granted by BioMed prior to the date of expiry or termination (as the case may be) will remain in full force and effect and will not be affected by termination or expiry of this Agreement; and

 

16.1.4

BioMed will immediately assign back to ProTides all rights in and to the Compound Patents by promptly executing an assignment agreement in favour of ProTides on terms equivalent to those set out in Part 4 of the Schedule to this Agreement.

 

16.2	Following the lawful termination of this Agreement by ProTides pursuant to Clause 15.1 or 15.2 or by either party pursuant to Clause 17 or by BioMed pursuant to Clause 15.2 (other than a termination covered by Clause 16.1) or 15.3:

 

16.2.1

BioMed will within [***] calculate and pay to ProTides all outstanding sums due under this Agreement up to the date of termination hereof;

 

16.2.2

BioMed will cease using the Agreement IP (but in the case of the Compound Patents and the Research Patents, only for so long as the relevant Patents remain in force in each country or territory) in any manner whatsoever except that BioMed may for a period of [***] after the date of termination and subject to payment of the appropriate royalties to ProTides pursuant to Clause 10, continue to distribute and sell any unsold stocks of Products;

 

16.2.3

BioMed will assign to ProTides all rights in and to all intellectual property relating to the Compounds generated by or on behalf of BioMed utilising the Agreement IP, including the Compound Patents, Compound Divisionals, the Research Patents and the Research IP by promptly executing an assignment agreement in favour of ProTides on terms equivalent to those set out in Part 4 of the Schedule to this Agreement;

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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16.2.4

each Party will promptly return to the other Party, or at the other Party’s request destroy, any confidential information disclosed to it by the other Party pursuant to this Agreement; and

 

16.2.5

each Sub-Licence Agreement will remain in full force and effect provided that:

 

(a)

the sub-licence was not granted to an Affiliate of BioMed other than on an arm’s length basis;

 

(b)

the relevant Sub-Licensee continues to observe and comply with the terms of the relevant Sub-Licence Agreement; and

 

(c)

BioMed promptly following a request from ProTides, such request to be received within a period of [***] following the date of termination, assigns to ProTides all of its rights and obligations under the Sub-License Agreement to ProTides or ProTides’ nominee; and

 

16.2.6

except as set out in Clause 16.2.5, all Sub-Licence Agreements will terminate.

 

16.3	If BioMed terminates the Research Work pursuant to Clause 7.3 and/ or 7.6, and [***] following the date of such termination, BioMed is not actively developing [***], all right, title and interest in and to the Research IP, including the Research Patents, will be assigned to ProTides.

 

16.4	The accrued rights and liabilities of the parties under this Agreement will survive expiry or termination of this Agreement.

 

16.5

The terms of Clauses 1 (Definitions and Interpretation), 7.8.3, 10 (Financial Provisions)(in relation to sums outstanding as at the date of termination or expiry (including any instalments under Clause 10.4 relating to events which occurred prior to termination or expiry) and any payments due thereafter under Clause 16.1 only), 11.1.1, 11.2.2 and 11.3 (Intellectual Property), 13 (Warranties and Liabilities), 14

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

44

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(Confidentiality), 16 (Effects of Termination), 17 (Force Majeure), 18 (Notices), 19 (General) and 20 (Governing Law) will continue in full force and effect regardless of the expiry or termination of this Agreement.

 

17.	FORCE MAJEURE

 

17.1

Other than financial obligations under this Agreement which will not fall within the scope of this Clause 17.1, neither party will be deemed to be in breach of this Agreement, or otherwise be liable to the other party, by reason of any delay in performing or failure to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement, to the extent that such delay or failure is due to any event beyond the reasonable control of that party and of which it has notified the other party, including acts of God; acts, regulations and laws of any government; strikes or other concerted acts of workers; acts of vandalism; fire; floods; drought and other weather-related circumstances; earthquakes and other natural disasters; explosions; riots and other civil disturbances; wars (declared or undeclared); rebellion and sabotage; inevitable accidents; quarantine and customs restrictions; damage in factories or warehouses; and any lack of supply of raw materials, excipients, packaging or other supplies; and any time for performance hereunder will be extended by the actual time of delay caused by any such occurrence.

 

17.2

If either party is prevented by an event of force majeure from complying with its obligations under this Agreement for a continuous period in excess of [***] the other party may terminate this Agreement on giving to the party prevented from complying with its obligations [***] written notice and this Agreement will terminate on the expiry of the [***] notice period provided that the party prevented from complying with its obligations remains so prevented at the expiry of the notice period. The terms of Clause 16 (Effects of Termination) will apply to termination of this Agreement under this Clause.

 

18.

NOTICES

 

18.1	Any notice required to be given under this Agreement will be served personally or by courier addressed to the relevant party as specified in Clause 18.2. Any notice so

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

45

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given will be deemed to have been served if personally delivered, on the day and at the time of delivery or if served by courier, [***] after posting and in proving service it will be sufficient to produce a copy of the notice properly addressed with a receipt for delivery.

 

18.2

Notices to BioMed will be addressed to BioMed at the address given above or at such other address as it may have intimated in writing to ProTides for this purpose, and will be marked for the attention of Chief Executive Officer. Notices to ProTides will be addressed to ProTides at its address given above or at such other address as it may have intimated in writing to BioMed for this purpose, and will be marked for the attention of the Chief Executive Officer.

 

19.

GENERAL

 

19.1

The relationship between the parties will be that of independent third parties and nothing in this Agreement will be construed or be deemed to imply that the relationship between the parties is that of agent and principal. Neither party will have any authority to hold itself out as an agent of the other party or make any statements, representations or commitments of any kind or take any other action which will be binding upon the other party without the other party’s prior written consent.

 

19.2

Except as expressly set out in this Agreement, neither party will be entitled to assign or transfer, whether in whole or in part, any of its rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including in the case of BioMed its right in and to the Assigned IP) without the prior written consent of the other party (which consent may be withheld for any or no reason). Notwithstanding the foregoing each party will be entitled to assign or transfer all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement:

 

19.2.1

in connection with an amalgamation with or a sale of all or substantially all of its business or assets to a third party; and

 

19.2.2

to an Affiliate,

without the consent of the other party provided that the third party enters into a deed of assignment under which it accepts all liability under this Agreement from the date of such assignment.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

46

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19.3	No failure or delay by either party in exercising any right or remedy under this Agreement will operate as a waiver of such right or remedy nor will any single or partial exercise or waiver of any such right or remedy preclude its further exercise or the exercise of any other right or remedy.

 

19.4

This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and replaces all prior agreements, understandings, representations, writings and discussions between the parties whether written or oral in relation hereto. Nothing in this Agreement will, however, operate to limit or exclude any liability for fraudulent misrepresentations.

 

19.5

If any of the provisions of this Agreement are or become invalid, or are ruled illegal by any court of competent jurisdiction, or are deemed unenforceable under then current applicable law from time to time in effect during the period of this Agreement, it is the parties’ intention that the remainder of this Agreement will not be affected thereby provided that the parties’ rights under this Agreement are not materially altered. It is further the parties’ intention that in lieu of each such provision which is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, there will be substituted or added as part of this Agreement a valid, legal and enforceable provision which in effect will be as similar as possible to the effect of the original invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision.

 

19.6	To the extent there is any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of any Agreement executed pursuant to Clause 3.3 of this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

47

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20.	GOVERNING LAW

This Agreement will be governed by the laws of England and the parties hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF this Agreement consisting of this and the preceding fifty one (51) pages, together with the Schedule, is executed as follows:

SIGNED by Hugh S. Griffith for and on behalf of NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED on the 13^th October 2009 in the presence of this witness:

 

Witness
Full Name						Director
Address

SIGNED by [***] for and on behalf of CARDIFF PROTIDES LIMITED on the 13^th October 2009 in the presence of this witness:

 

Witness						[***]
Full Name		[***]				Director
Address

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

48

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This is the Schedule referred to in the Licence and Collaboration Agreement between

NuCana BioMed Limited and Cardiff ProTides Limited.

SCHEDULE

PART 1

[***]

 

[***]
[***]
[***]		[***]		[***]
[***]		[***]		[***]
[***]		[***]		[***]
[***]
[***]
[***]		[***]		[***]
[***]		[***]		[***]
[***]		[***]		[***]

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

49

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PART 2

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

50

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PART 3

[***]

 

[***]
[***]			[***]
[***]			[***]
[***]			[***]
[***]			[***]
[***]
[***]
[***]
[***]

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

51

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PART 4

ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

52

Exhibit 10.8

Execution Version

PATENT ASSIGNMENT

between

CARDIFF PROTIDES LIMITED

and

NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED

Dated: 15th March 2012

Ref: [***]

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

INDEX

 

CLAUSE				PAGE
1.		Definitions and Interpretation			1
2.		Assignment			2
3.		Warranties and Liabilities			3
4.		Entire Agreement			3
5.		Counterparts			3
6.		Governing Law and Jurisdiction			4

 

 

 

Dundas & Wilson

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

THIS ASSIGNMENT is made on 15th March 2012

BETWEEN:

 

(1)	CARDIFF PROTIDES LIMITED, a company incorporated under the Companies Acts (registered number 05455482) and having its registered office at Ty Myddfai, National Botanic Gardens of Wales, Llanarthney, Carmarthen, Dyfed SA32 8HZ (the “Assignor”); and

 

(2)	NUCANA BIOMED LIMITED, a company incorporated under the Companies Acts (registered number 03308778) and having its registered office at Bassett House, 5 Southwellpark Road, Camberley, Surrey GU15 3PU (the “Assignee”).

WHEREAS:

Pursuant to the Assignment, Licence and Collaboration Agreement (as defined below), the Assignor has agreed to assign to the Assignee, and the Assignee is willing to accept the assignment of the Assignor’s entire right, title and interest in and to the Patents (as defined below) on the terms and conditions set out in this Assignment.

NOW IT IS AGREED as follows:

 

1.	DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

 

1.1	In this Assignment (including the Recitals), unless the context otherwise requires:

Assignment, Licence and Collaboration Agreement means the Licence and Collaboration Agreement dated 13 October 2009 between Nucana Biomed Limited and Cardiff Protides Limited, as amended by the Variation Agreement dated [insert date] between the same parties;

Effective Date means the date of this Assignment;

Patents means:

 

(i)

the patent applications listed in the Schedule;

 

(ii)

all patent applications which claim priority from the patent applications referred to in (i) above or from any patent application from which the patent applications referred to in (i) above claim priority;

 

(iii)

all patents granted pursuant to the patent applications referred to in (i) and (ii) above; and

 

 

Dundas & Wilson

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

1

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(iv)

all reissues, extensions, substitutions, continuations, divisions, supplementary protection certificates or extensions of term relating to the patent applications and patents referred to in (i) to (iii) above; and

Third Party means any party other than the Assignor and the Assignee.

 

1.2	In this Assignment unless the context demands otherwise:

 

1.2.1

words denoting the singular shall include the plural and vice versa;

 

1.2.2

words denoting a gender shall include all genders;

 

1.2.3

words denoting persons shall include corporations and all other legal entities;

 

1.2.4

a reference to a “Clause” shall be deemed to be a reference to the relevant clause of this Assignment;

 

1.2.5

the Clause headings are inserted for ease of reference and shall not affect the interpretation or construction of this Assignment or confer any right or obligations on either of the parties; and

 

1.2.6

references to any English legal term for any action, remedy, method of judicial proceeding, legal document, legal status, court, official or any legal concept or thing shall in respect of any jurisdiction other than England be deemed to include what most nearly approximates in that jurisdiction to the English legal term.

 

2.	ASSIGNMENT

 

2.1	With effect from the Effective Date, the Assignor hereby assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby accepts the assignment of, the Assignor’s entire, right, title and interest in and to the Patents including all statutory and common law rights.

 

2.2	The Assignor hereby undertakes:

 

2.2.1

at the reasonable request and cost of the Assignee to do all things and execute all such further documents, forms and authorisations as may be necessary to vest the Assignor’s entire right, title and interest in and to the Patents in the Assignee absolutely, to register the Assignee’ title as proprietor of the Patents at relevant patent offices anywhere in the world and to provide reasonable assistance in the resolution of any question concerning the Patents;

 

2.2.2

at the reasonable request and cost of the Assignee to provide to the Assignee such assistance as the Assignee may reasonably require, including but not limited to

 

 

Dundas & Wilson

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

2

---

executing all such further documents, forms and authorisations as may be required, to enable the Assignee to prosecute and maintain the Patents during the period from the Effective Date and thereafter until registration of the assignment of the whole property, right, title and interest in the Patents to the Assignee; and

 

2.2.3

not, following the date of execution of this Assignment and prior to any transfer back to the Assignor of the Patents pursuant to the Assignment, Licence and Collaboration Agreement or otherwise, to assign or purport to assign any rights in, to or over the Patents to any Third Party or grant or purport to grant to any Third Party any licence or other right or permission to use the Patents or otherwise do anything inconsistent with the assignment of the whole property, right, title, and interest in and to the Patents to the Assignee pursuant to this Assignment.

 

3.	WARRANTIES AND LIABILITIES

 

3.1	Each party warrants to the other that it has full power and authority to enter into and to perform its obligations under this Assignment.

 

3.2

Other than as expressly set out in Clause 3.1 above and as contained in the Assignment, Licence and Collaboration Agreement, the Assignor gives no warranties, either express or implied, in relation to the Patents, including without limitation any warranty that the Patents are valid, will proceed to grant and/or whether exploitation of the Patents will infringe any third party rights.

 

4.	ENTIRE AGREEMENT

 

4.1

This Assignment and the Assignment, Licence and Collaboration Agreement embody and set forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties in respect of the assignment of the Patents and supersedes all prior oral or written agreements, understandings or arrangements relating to the assignment of the Patents. Neither party shall be entitled to rely on any agreement, understanding or arrangement which is not expressly referred to in this Assignment in respect of the assignment of the Patents.

 

4.2	Nothing contained in this Assignment or in any other document referred to or incorporated in it shall be read or construed as excluding any liability or remedy as a result of fraud.

 

5.	COUNTERPARTS

 

5.1	This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which, when executed and delivered, shall constitute an original, but all the counterparts shall together constitute one and the same agreement. This Assignment shall not take effect until it has been executed by both parties.

 

 

Dundas & Wilson

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

3

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6.	GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION

This Assignment (and any dispute or claim relating to it, its enforceability or its termination) is to be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with English law. The parties irrevocably agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute which may arise out of or in connection with this Assignment.

 

 

Dundas & Wilson

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

4

---

This is the Schedule referred to in the foregoing Assignment of Patents made between Cardiff Protides Limited and Nucana Biomed Limited

PART 1

[***]

 

[***].
[***]
[***]		[***]
[***]		[***]   [***]
[***]		[***]   [***]
[***]		[***]   [***]   [***]
[***]		[***]   [***]   [***]
[***]		[***]   [***]
[***]		[***]   [***]   [***]
[***]		[***]   [***]

 

 

Dundas & Wilson

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

5

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[***]		[***]   [***]
[***]		[***]   [***]
[***]		[***]   [***]
[***]		[***]   [***]
[***]
[***]
[***]		[***]
[***]		[***]   [***]
[***]		[***]   [***]   [***]
[***]		[***]   [***]   [***]
[***]		[***]   [***]   [***]

 

 

Dundas & Wilson

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

6

---

[***]		[***]   [***]
[***]		[***]   [***]
[***]		[***]   [***]
[***]		[***]   [***]

 

 

Dundas & Wilson

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

7

---

This Deed is executed by the parties and is delivered and takes effect on the date at the beginning of this Deed.

Executed as a Deed by Cardiff Protides Limited acting by:

/s/ [***]

Signature of Director/Authorised Signatory

[***]

Print name of Director/Authorised Signatory

Executed as a Deed by Nucana Biomed Limited acting by:

/s/ H. Griffith                                                                     

Signature of Director/Authorised Signatory

Hugh Griffith                                                                     

Print name of Director/Authorised Signatory

 

 

Dundas & Wilson

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

8

Exhibit 21.1

Subsidiaries of the Registrant

NuCana, Inc., a Delaware corporation

NuCana BioMed Trustee Company Limited, a private limited company registered in Scotland

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” and to the use of our report dated June 26, 2017, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of NuCana BioMed Limited included in the Registration Statement (Form F-1) and related Prospectus of NuCana plc dated September 1, 2017.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

September 1, 2017

 

September 1, 2017

 

VIA EDGAR & OVERNIGHT MAIL

 

Securities and Exchange Commission

Division of Corporation Finance

100 F Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20549

Attention: Division of Corporation Finance, Office of Healthcare and Insurance

 

Re: NuCana plc (formerly NuCana BioMed Limited)

Amendment No. 1 to

Draft Registration Statement on Form F-1

Submitted August 4, 2017

CIK No. 0001709626

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We are submitting this letter on behalf of NuCana plc (formerly NuCana BioMed Limited) (the “Company”) in response to comments from the staff (the “Staff”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) received by letter dated August 16, 2017 (the “Comment Letter”) from the Division of Corporation Finance, Office of Healthcare and Insurance, to Hugh Griffith, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, relating to the above-referenced Amended Draft Registration Statement. In conjunction with this letter, the Company is publicly filing its registration statement on Form F-1 (the “Registration Statement”) to the Commission.

 

For convenient reference, we have set forth below in italics each of the Staff’s comments set forth in the Comment Letter and have keyed the Company’s responses to the numbering of the comments and the headings used in the Comment Letter. All of the responses are based on information provided to Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. (“Mintz Levin”) by representatives of the Company. Where appropriate, the Company has responded to the Staff’s comments by making changes to the disclosure in the Registration Statement. Page numbers referred to in the responses reference the applicable pages of the Registration Statement.

 

We are providing by overnight delivery to your attention five courtesy copies of this letter and copies of the Registration Statement that have been marked to show changes from the Draft Registration Statement.

 

 

---

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.

 

September 1, 2017

Page 2

 

Overview, page 1

 

Comment 1: We note your response to prior comment 2. However, the current Summary disclosure creates the impression that the FDA is likely to approve your candidate based on these early trials even though the results “may not meet the level of statistical significance required by the FDA or comparable regulatory authorities for marketing approval.” Therefore, while we will not object if you discuss the control rates in the business section with proper context, the Summary discussion is inappropriate. Please revise accordingly.

 

Response 1:

 

In response to the Staff’s comment, the Company has revised page 1 in the “Summary” section of the Registration Statement (i) to replace the specific disease control rate percentages stated with the more qualitative statements that the disease control rates were high and (ii) to add an express statement that results generated in these first-in-human dose-ranging Phase 1 trials are not suitable for marketing approval. In addition, the Company has added a similar statement regarding the results not being suitable for marketing approval to the risk factor entitled “Initial success in the completed and ongoing early-stage clinical trials may not be indicative of results obtained when these trials are completed or in later stage trials” on page 18 of the Registration Statement. The Company respectfully submits that the assessment of disease control rates in the two referenced Phase 1 and Phase 1b clinical trials of Acelarin is a critical component of any current evaluation of the potential anti-cancer activity of Acelarin, of the Company’s decision to pursue development of Acelarin and of the Company’s planned development strategy of Acelarin. Furthermore, the Company believes that if the disclosure in the “Summary” section remains silent as to the efficacy observed in these trials, then the reader may incorrectly conclude that this product candidate has not demonstrated any clinical activity to date. As a result, the Company believes that disclosure in the “Summary” section of the qualitative nature of the disease control rates to potential investors is necessary for investors to have a full understanding of Acelarin, its current stage of development and the risks surrounding its development. The Company also acknowledges the need to provide proper context in the “Summary” for such information and the Company respectfully submits that the additional statement regarding such results not being suitable for market approval, added to both the “Summary” section and the relevant risk factor, provide appropriate context to the reader.

 

Business, page 84

 

Comment 2: We note your response to prior comment 10 and the amended disclosure that “in vitro cytotoxic activity of NUC-7738 had more than 50 times greater anti-cancer activity than cordycepin.” Please put this selected information into its full and proper context by providing the specific details and parameters of the study from which this data was drawn, including clinical endpoints, duration of treatment, comparison against placebo or standard treatment, metrics utilized, statistical significance, etc. Without this contextual information, it may be difficult for the reader to draw an accurate and balanced assessment of these favorable results. If you cannot provide this information, please delete the reference.

 

2

---

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.

 

September 1, 2017

Page 3

 

Response 2:

 

In response to the Staff’s comment, the Company has revised page 113 of the Registration Statement to provide additional detail and context surrounding its preclinical studies of NUC-7738. To date, NUC-7738 has not yet been studied clinically. As a result, details of clinical endpoints, duration of treatment, comparison against placebo or standard treatment, metrics utilized and statistical significance cannot be provided.

 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

2. Significant Accounting Policies

Intangible Assets, page F-10

 

Comment 3: Please address the following regarding your response to prior comment 15:

 

•

Tell us how you considered the impact of the relevant inherent uncertainties including regulatory approval, commercialization, pricing, and competition as they affect your ability to reliably determine a pattern of future economic consumption, such that a pattern other than straight-line is appropriate pursuant to paragraph 97 of IAS 38.

 

•

You state in your response to comment 15 that reverse sum of the years digits reflects the increasing consumption of the economic benefit of the patent as the product candidate approaches expiry. However, you appear to have only considered the commercial value of potential product revenue from the products the patents support, which is contingent upon a significant number of factors culminating in regulatory approval and significant market usage at favorable pricing. Tell how you considered the rebuttable presumption in paragraph 98A of IAS 38 that an amortization method that is based on the revenue generated by an activity that includes the use of an intangible asset is inappropriate. As part of your consideration, specifically address how you considered the early development stage of your product candidates, including the uncertainty of regulatory approval which would be required for any future product revenue.

 

•

To the extent you are able to overcome the rebuttable presumption noted above, tell us how your amortization method reflects a similar inherent economic value to the patents during the development period, such as allowing for the research and development of candidates subject to the patent and/or keeping other entities from commercializing products with similar underlying technologies. Clearly explain how you weighted this current economic value against the probabilities of future commercialization in determining your amortization methodology.

 

Response 3:

---

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.

 

September 1, 2017

Page 4

 

In response to the Staff’s comment and further to the teleconference conversation on August 22, 2017 among Keira Nakada and Kenneth Vaughn of the Staff, Hugh Griffith and Don Munoz of the Company, representatives of Mintz Levin, and representatives of Ernst & Young LLP, please see below a supplemental response to the points raised by the Staff. In addition, as noted below, the Company has revised its description of its accounting policy with respect to the amortization of intangible assets in the footnotes to its audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016 on page F-20 to reflect the fact that the Company continually assesses the appropriate method to apply for purposes of amortization of patents.

 

•

The Company respectfully submits that, since its inception, its approach has always been to reflect most accurately the reality of its industry and the Company as it relates to the pattern of economic consumption of the Company’s intellectual property. As part of that approach, the Company considered the factors and uncertainties discussed below in determining whether a methodology other than straight-line is appropriate pursuant to paragraph 97 of IAS 38. The value of a patent prior to regulatory approval is based on an assessment of the likelihood that a drug candidate that the patent underlies will survive the development and regulatory process. When selecting the appropriate amortization methodology for the Company’s patents, the Company examines each individual patent on a case-by-case basis, including the stage of development of the lead compound that the patent underlies and the risks associated with that compound’s specific development and regulatory path. The patents related to the Company’s two lead product candidates, Acelarin and NUC-3373, represent 84% of the value of all its patents. These two lead compounds are new chemical entities derived from the nucleoside analogs gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil, respectively, two existing widely used chemotherapy agents.

 

As part of the Company’s assessment of the likelihood that these two product candidates will survive the development and regulatory process, the Company considered the fact that (i) both candidates are derived from existing widely used chemotherapy agents and (ii) the Company’s ProTide technology used to transform these widely used agents into the two product candidates is based on medicinal chemistry that preceded and helped lead to the development of several FDA-approved anti-viral drugs containing nucleotide analogs. These anti-viral drugs marketed by Gilead Sciences, Inc., a public U.S. biopharmaceutical company, include: sofosbuvir, or Sovaldi^®, which is also a key component of Harvoni^®; and tenofovir alafenamide fumarate, or TAF, which is a key component of Genvoya^®, Descovy^® and Odefsey^®. As a result, the Company assessed that the likelihood of successfully completing its development programs for its two lead product candidates was greater than would be the case for a standard investigational compound in the biopharmaceutical industry. More specifically, according to a June 2016 report from BIO (Biotechnology Innovation Organization), a leading industry organization, during the period from 2006 to 2015, Phase 3 clinical trials have had a 58% chance of reaching an NDA filing and the overwhelming majority of those (greater than 85%) have achieved regulatory approval. For the reasons set forth above the Company believes its two lead

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Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.

 

September 1, 2017

Page 5

 

product candidates have a higher likelihood of success in Phase 3 than the probabilities reported by BIO, and this higher probability of regulatory approval results in a higher probability of future economic consumption.

 

With respect to future commercialization, pricing and competition, the Company’s product candidates each have novel modes of action which differ significantly from the conventional cancer treatments that the Company believes they have the potential to replace. As a result, the Company does not expect that these product candidates will face direct competition from substantially similar compounds in the near or medium term. These product candidates also address a range of cancers that occur with reasonable frequency in the population, which the Company believes will permit faster consumption if and when regulatory approval is received. The Company has adopted an intellectual property strategy that is designed to take account of possible challenges and competition in order to maximize to the greatest extent possible the period of patent exclusivity following regulatory approval.

 

•

Paragraph 98 of IAS 38 requires that the amortization methodology used be selected on the basis of the expected pattern of consumption of the expected future economic benefits embodied in the asset. The Company’s current method reflects a lower pattern of consumption in the earlier part of the asset’s useful life, which is consistent with the pattern observed by the Company in its industry. Following regulatory approval of a drug, it is frequently the case that demand for the drug rises over a period of time up to a stable level that will vary based on the patient needs addressed by the drug. This pattern of demand thus results in an increase in demand, starting from no demand as of the point of regulatory approval and increasing up to the point at which the market is fully supplied with the drug and there remains no significant competition. Prior to regulatory approval, the patent has some value as an intangible asset which can be licensed or assigned on account of its potential future value, but it is not capable of generating drug revenue and therefore, the consumption of the patent is very low.

 

A relevant real-world example of a pattern of consumption similar to our amortization methodology can be seen in gemcitabine, the drug from which our first ProTide, Acelarin, is derived. Gemcitabine, sold under the brand name Gemzar^® by Eli Lilly, was patented in 1983 and was approved for medical use in 1995. Since its first regulatory approval in one indication in 1995, Gemzar^® saw a steady increase in its economic consumption as it was adopted and received approvals in three additional indications. Its peak year of economic consumption was in 2008 and in 2010 its main patent expired. Given this pattern of economic consumption, the Company does not believe that a straight-line method is an appropriate method of amortization for our existing patents as this method does not reflect the fact that the patent is significantly more valuable towards the latter period of its life and that therefore amortization should be higher towards the latter period of its life.

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Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.

 

September 1, 2017

Page 6

 

•

As noted above, the Company determines the appropriate amortization methodology on a case-by-case basis, examining each patent individually, and it continually assesses the most appropriate amortization method to apply to new patents. While the Company believes the amortization methodology we have used to date is appropriate, the Company acknowledges that not all patents will underlie product candidates with the development and regulatory profile of our current lead product candidates. For example, for more novel compounds where the Company possesses less information on the parent compound, the risks associated with the development and regulatory pathway would be higher and the likelihood of ultimate regulatory approval would be lower. In these circumstances, the Company would apply the straight-line method.

 

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While the Company believes the amortization methodology it has used for its current patents is appropriate, the Company also respectfully advises the Staff that the difference between adopting a straight-line method of accounting for patent amortization versus the reverse-sum-of-the-years-digits method would result in a de minimis difference in the financial statements of the Company. Specifically, had the Company adopted the straight-line method from its inception for all of its patents, the cumulative impact over the six years to December 31, 2016 on the statement of operations would have been a higher amortization charge of approximately £22,582. As a result, the impact of the difference in approaches on the Company’s financial statements for the periods presented in the Registration Statement or in comparison to the Company’s overall research and development expense of £7.9 million and £5.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, is also de minimis. The Company respectfully submits that it believes that such a small difference, in and of itself, is not material to the Company’s disclosure or to a potential investor in the proposed offering. However, the Company does recognize the importance of clearly disclosing its policy with respect to amortization of intangible assets and has accordingly made the revisions noted above on page F-20 of the Registration Statement.

 

The Company respectfully submits, for the reasons set forth above, that the Company’s amortization methodology with respect to its existing patents is appropriate and that its revised description of its policy with respect to amortization of intangible assets on page F-20 of the Registration Statement adequately describes that policy and notes that the Company may determine to use straight-line amortization with respect to certain future patents.

 

*    *    *    *    *

 

We hope that the above responses and the related revisions reflected in the Registration Statement will be acceptable to the Staff. Please do not hesitate to call me, William C. Hicks, William T. Whelan or Adam Davey of this firm at (617) 542-6000 with any comments or questions regarding the Registration Statement and this letter. We thank you for your time and attention.

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Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.

 

September 1, 2017

Page 7

 

Sincerely,

 

/s/ John T. Rudy

John T. Rudy

 

cc:

Securities and Exchange Commission

Keira Nakada

Kenneth Vaughn

Jeffrey Gabor

Mary Beth Breslin

 

NuCana BioMed Limited

Hugh S. Griffith

Donald Munoz

 

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.

William C. Hicks

William T. Whelan

Adam Davey

 

Cooley LLP

Divakar Gupta

Brent B. Siler

Courtney T. Thorne