SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
---------------------------
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
March 5, 1998
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
DISCOVERY LABORATORIES, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 000-26422 94-3171943
(State or other (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
jurisdiction Identification Number)
of incorporation)
509 Madison Avenue, 14th Floor
New York, New York 10022
(Address of principal executive offices)
(212) 223-9504
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Item 5. Other Events
Discovery Laboratories, Inc. (the "Registrant"), ATI Acquisition
Corp. ("Acquisition Corp.") and the Registrant's majority-owned subsidiary,
Acute Therapeutics, Inc. ("ATI"), have entered into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger (the "Merger Agreement") dated as of March 5, 1998. Pursuant to the
Merger Agreement, the Registrant will acquire all outstanding shares of the
common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of ATI ("ATI Common Stock") through a
merger of Acquisition Corp. into ATI (the "Merger"). The Registrant and ATI have
also entered into a Management Agreement dated as of March 5, 1998 (the
"Management Agreement") providing for the management of the Registrant by the
ATI management team pending completion of the Merger. Pursuant to the Management
Agreement, members of the ATI management team have been granted options to
purchase 126,500 shares of the Registrant's Common Stock, par value $0.001 per
share ("Registrant Common Stock"), subject to vesting.
The Merger Agreement provides that the stockholders of ATI will be
issued 3.91 shares of Registrant Common Stock in exchange for each share of ATI
Common Stock held by the stockholders of ATI prior to the Merger (the "Exchange
Ratio"). Certain outstanding ATI options for the purchase of ATI Common Stock
will be assumed by the Registrant and will become exercisable for Registrant
Common Stock on the basis of the Exchange Ratio. In addition, pursuant to
employment agreements to be entered into with the Registrant, the ATI management
team will be granted, in the aggregate, options to purchase (i) 338,500 shares
of Registrant Common Stock, subject to vesting, (ii) 175,000 shares of
Registrant Common Stock at such time as the market capitalization of the
Registrant exceeds $75 million and (iii) 160,000 shares of Registrant Common
Stock upon consummation of a corporate partnering deal having a total value of
at least $20 million. The Registrant Common Stock to be issued to ATI
stockholders and the ATI options to be assumed in the Merger, together with the
options to be issued to ATI management members pursuant to their employment
agreements with the Registrant and the options granted pursuant to the
Management Agreement, will represent approximately 24% of the Registrant Common
Stock on a fully-diluted basis.
The closing of the Merger, which is expected to occur as soon as
practicable after the Registrant's Annual Meeting of Stockholders, is subject to
customary closing conditions, including approval by the stockholders of the
Registrant and ATI. The Merger is further conditioned upon, among other things,
(i) the execution of employment agreements by Robert J. Capetola, Ph.D.,
currently Chief Executive Officer of ATI, and other key executives of ATI and
(ii) the election at the Annual Meeting of a Board of Directors of the
Registrant consisting of six of the Registrant's current directors (three of
whom are also directors of ATI) and four of ATI's current directors.
Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c) Exhibits:
2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger among Discovery Laboratories, Inc., ATI
Acquisition Corp. and Acute Therapeutics, Inc. dated as of March 5,
1998.
2.2 Form of Registration Rights Agreement between Discovery
Laboratories, Inc., Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation and
The Scripps Research Institute.
2.3 Form of Lock-up Agreement.
10.1 Management Agreement between Discovery Laboratories, Inc. and Acute
Therapeutics, Inc. dated as of March 5, 1998.
99.1 Press Release dated March 10, 1998.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
DISCOVERY LABORATORIES, INC.
Date: March 10, 1998
By: /s/ James S. Kuo
------------------------------
Name: James S. Kuo, M.D.
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Exhibit Index
Exhibit Number Description
-------------- -----------
2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger
2.2 Form of Registration Rights Agreement
2.3 Form of Lock-up Agreement
10.1 Management Agreement
99.1 Press Release dated March 10, 1998
EXHIBIT 2.1
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
among
DISCOVERY LABORATORIES, INC.
ATI ACQUISITION CORP.
AND
ACUTE THERAPEUTICS, INC.
March 5, 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE 1 THE MERGER...................................................... 2
Section 1.1 The Merger........................................... 2
Section 1.2 Closing and Effective Time........................... 2
Section 1.3 Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation.. 2
Section 1.4 Certificate of Incorporation......................... 2
Section 1.5 Bylaws............................................... 2
Section 1.6 Effect of the Merger................................. 2
ARTICLE 2 CONVERSION OR EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES............................ 3
Section 2.1 Conversion of Capital Stock.......................... 3
Section 2.3 Payment for Common Shares; Surrender of Certificates. 4
Section 2.4 Appraisal Rights..................................... 5
Section 2.5 Seller Option Plan................................... 5
ARTICLE 3 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER........................ 6
Section 3.1 Organization......................................... 6
Section 3.2 Capitalization....................................... 6
Section 3.3 Authorization; Validity of Agreement; Necessary
Action .............................................. 7
Section 3.4 Consents and Approvals; No Violations................ 7
Section 3.5 [RESERVED]........................................... 8
Section 3.6 Absence of Certain Changes........................... 8
Section 3.7 No Undisclosed Liabilities........................... 9
Section 3.8 Litigation........................................... 9
Section 3.9 No Default; Compliance with Applicable Laws.......... 9
Section 3.10 Intellectual Property................................ 9
Section 3.11 Tax Returns and Payments............................. 10
Section 3.12 Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.............. 10
Section 3.13 Title to Property.................................... 10
Section 3.14 Employee Benefits and Contracts...................... 11
Section 3.15 Employment; Labor Matters............................ 12
Section 3.16 Brokers.............................................. 12
Section 3.17 Environmental Laws................................... 12
Section 3.18 Insurance............................................ 13
Section 3.19 Contracts and Commitments............................ 13
Section 3.20 Interests of Officers and Directors.................. 14
Section 3.21 Questionable Payments................................ 14
Section 3.22 Certain Tax Matters.................................. 14
ARTICLE 4 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER AND ACQUISITION
SUBSIDIARY .................................................... 15
Section 4.1 Organization......................................... 15
Section 4.2 Capitalization....................................... 15
Section 4.3 Authorization; Validity of Agreement; Necessary
Action .............................................. 16
Section 4.4 Consents and Approvals; No Violations................ 17
Section 4.5 SEC Reports and Financial Statements................. 17
Section 4.6 Absence of Certain Changes........................... 18
Section 4.7 No Undisclosed Liabilities........................... 19
Section 4.8 Litigation........................................... 19
Section 4.9 No Default; Compliance with Applicable Laws.......... 19
Section 4.10 Intellectual Property................................ 20
Section 4.11 Tax Returns and Payments............................. 20
Section 4.12 Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.............. 21
Section 4.13 Title to Property.................................... 21
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Section 4.14 Employee Benefits and Contracts...................... 21
Section 4.15 Employment; Labor Matters............................ 22
Section 4.16 Brokers.............................................. 23
Section 4.17 Environmental Laws................................... 23
Section 4.18 Insurance............................................ 23
Section 4.19 Contracts and Commitments............................ 23
Section 4.20 Interests of Officers and Directors.................. 24
Section 4.21 Questionable Payments................................ 24
Section 4.22 Certain Tax Matters.................................. 25
Section 4.23 No Prior Activities.................................. 25
ARTICLE 5 COVENANTS....................................................... 25
Section 5.1 Interim Operations of Seller and Buyer............... 25
Section 5.2 Access; Confidentiality.............................. 27
Section 5.3 Additional Agreements................................ 27
Section 5.4 Consents and Approvals; HSR Act...................... 28
Section 5.5 Exclusivity.......................................... 28
Section 5.6 Publicity............................................ 28
Section 5.7 Notification of Certain Matters...................... 28
Section 5.8 Indemnification...................................... 29
Section 5.9 Approval of Stockholders............................. 29
Section 5.10 Buyer Proxy Statement................................ 30
Section 5.11 Seller Information Statement......................... 30
Section 5.12 Tax Treatment........................................ 31
Section 5.13 Form S-8............................................. 31
Section 5.14 Reservation of Buyer Common Stock.................... 31
Section 5.15 Consolidation of Operations.......................... 31
Section 5.16 Consolidation of Board of Directors.................. 32
Section 5.17 Incentive Bonus Payments............................. 32
ARTICLE 6 CONDITIONS...................................................... 32
Section 6.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect
the Merger .......................................... 32
Section 6.2 Additional Conditions to Obligations of Seller....... 33
Section 6.3 Additional Conditions to Obligations of Buyer and
Acquisition Subsidiary............................... 34
ARTICLE 7 TERMINATION..................................................... 35
Section 7.1 Termination.......................................... 35
Section 7.2 Effect of Termination................................ 36
ARTICLE 8 MISCELLANEOUS................................................... 36
Section 8.1 Fees and Expenses.................................... 36
Section 8.2 Amendment and Modification........................... 36
Section 8.3 Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties........ 36
Section 8.4 Notices.............................................. 37
Section 8.5 Interpretation....................................... 38
Section 8.6 Counterparts......................................... 38
Section 8.7 Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries;
Rights of Ownership.................................. 38
Section 8.8 Severability......................................... 38
Section 8.9 Governing Law........................................ 38
Section 8.10 Assignment........................................... 39
Exhibit A - Form of Capetola Employment Agreement
Exhibit B - Form of Key Executive Employment Agreement
Exhibit C - Form of Option Agreement for 338,500 Shares
Exhibit D - Form of Option Agreement for 175,000 Shares
Exhibit E - Form of Option Agreement for 160,000 Shares
ii
Exhibit F - Form of Registration Rights Agreement
Exhibit G - Form of Investment Agreement
Exhibit H - Form of Lock-up Agreement
Exhibit I - Form of Buyer 1998 Stock Option Plan
iii
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated March 5, 1998, by and among Discovery
Laboratories, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Buyer" or "Discovery"), ATI
Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Buyer
("Acquisition Subsidiary"), and Acute Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Seller" or "Acute").
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, upon and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
Acquisition Subsidiary will merge with and into Seller (the "Merger") and Seller
will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Buyer;
WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of Seller and Buyer have each determined
that it is in the best interests of their respective stockholders for Buyer to
acquire Seller upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;
and
WHEREAS, also in furtherance of such acquisition, the Boards of Directors
of Seller and Buyer have each approved this Agreement and the Merger of
Acquisition Subsidiary with and into Seller in accordance with the Delaware
General Corporation Law ("DGCL"), and upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Seller has resolved to recommend
approval of this Agreement and the Merger to the holders of shares of Seller's
Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share (the "Common Shares") and the holder of
shares of Seller's Series A Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share (the
"Series A Acute Preferred Shares");
WHEREAS, for federal income tax purposes it is intended that the Merger
qualify as a reorganization under the provisions of Section 368(a) of the United
States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"); and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants
and agreements herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby,
Seller, Buyer and Acquisition Subsidiary hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
THE MERGER
Section 1.1 The Merger. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, at the Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.2 hereof), Seller and
Acquisition Subsidiary shall consummate the Merger pursuant to which Acquisition
Subsidiary shall be merged with and into Seller in accordance with Section 251
of the DGCL, the separate corporate existence of Acquisition Subsidiary shall
cease, and Seller shall continue as the surviving corporation in the Merger
(Seller is sometimes referred to as the "Surviving Corporation").
Section 1.2 Closing and Effective Time. The closing of the Merger (the
"Closing") shall take place (i) at 10:00 a.m., New York time, on a date to be
specified by the parties, which shall be no later than the fifth business day
after satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions set forth in Article 6
hereof, at the offices of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP, 1633 Broadway, 47th
Floor, New York, NY 10019 or (ii) at such other time and place as Buyer and
Seller shall agree (the "Closing Date"). Immediately after completion of the
Closing, the parties shall cause the Merger to be consummated by filing a
certificate of merger (the "Certificate of Merger") executed in accordance with
the relevant provisions of the DGCL and shall make all other filings or
recordings required under the DGCL. The Merger shall become effective at the
time when the Certificate of Merger has been duly filed with the Delaware
Secretary of State, or such time as is agreed upon by the parties and specified
in the Certificate of Merger, and such time is hereinafter referred to as the
"Effective Time." The date of the Effective Time is hereinafter referred to as
the "Effective Date."
Section 1.3 Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation. The
directors and officers of Seller at the Effective Time shall be the initial
directors and officers, respectively, of the Surviving Corporation.
Section 1.4 Certificate of Incorporation. The certificate of incorporation
of Acquisition Subsidiary in effect at the Effective Time shall be the
certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until amended in
accordance with applicable law.
Section 1.5 Bylaws. The bylaws of Acquisition Subsidiary in effect at the
Effective Time shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until amended in
accordance with applicable law.
Section 1.6 Effect of the Merger. At the Effective Time, the effect of the
Merger shall be as provided in the applicable provisions of the DGCL. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective
Time all the property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of Seller and
Acquisition Subsidiary shall vest in the Surviving Corporation, and all debts,
liabilities and duties of Seller and Acquisition Subsidiary shall become the
debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving Corporation.
ARTICLE 2
CONVERSION OR EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES
Section 2.1 Conversion of Capital Stock. As of the Effective Time, by
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Buyer, Acquisition
Subsidiary, Seller, or the holders of any Common Shares or Series A Acute
Preferred Shares or Series B Acute Preferred Shares (as herein defined) or any
shares of capital stock of Acquisition Subsidiary:
(a) Acquisition Subsidiary Capital Stock. Each issued and outstanding
share of capital stock of Acquisition Subsidiary shall be converted into and
become one fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock of the Surviving
Corporation.
(b) Cancellation of Treasury Stock and Series A Acute Preferred Shares.
All Common Shares that are owned by Seller and all Series A Acute Preferred
Shares that are owned by Buyer shall be cancelled and extinguished without any
conversion thereof and no consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor.
(c) Conversion of Common Shares. Each issued and outstanding Common Share
(other than Common Shares to be canceled in accordance with Section 2.1(b) and
any dissenting Common Shares which are held by stockholders exercising appraisal
rights pursuant to the DGCL ("Dissenting Stockholders")) shall by virtue of the
Merger and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, be
automatically converted into the right to receive, upon surrender of the
certificate formerly representing such Common Share (the "Common Share
Certificate") in the manner provided in Section 2.3 below, 3.91 shares of Common
Stock, $.001 par value of Buyer ("Buyer Common Stock"). The number of shares of
Buyer Common Stock into which each Common Share will be automatically converted
is referred to as the "Conversion Ratio." All such Common Shares, when so
converted, shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled
and retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a certificate
representing any such Common Shares shall cease to have any rights with respect
thereto, except the right to receive the merger consideration therefor upon the
surrender of such certificate in accordance with Section 2.3, or, in the case of
Dissenting Stockholders, the right, if any, to receive payment from the
Surviving Corporation of the fair value of such Common Shares as determined in
accordance with the DGCL. No fractional shares of Buyer Common Stock shall be
issued and, in lieu thereof, a cash payment shall be made pursuant to Section
2.3(c).
Section 2.2 Exchange of Series B Acute Preferred Shares. Each issued and
outstanding Share of Seller's Series B Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per
share (the "Series B Acute Preferred Shares") shall, at the Closing, be
exchanged for one share of Series A Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share
of Buyer (the "Discovery Preferred Shares"), pursuant to an exchange agreement
between Buyer
2
and Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation ("JJDC")(the "Exchange Agreement")
in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Buyer and Seller.
Section 2.3 Payment for Common Shares; Surrender of Certificates
(a) Letter of Transmittal. As soon as practicable after the Effective
Time, Buyer will send to each record holder of Common Shares at the Effective
Time a letter of transmittal and other appropriate materials for use in
surrendering Common Share Certificates to Buyer's transfer agent, who shall be
appointed exchange agent with respect to the Merger (the "Exchange Agent").
(b) Payment Procedures. Promptly after the Effective Time, Buyer shall
request that the Exchange Agent distribute to each former holder of Common
Shares, upon surrender to the Exchange Agent of one or more Common Share
Certificates for cancellation together with a duly executed and properly
completed letter of transmittal, the shares of Buyer Common Stock receivable by
such holder in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.1(c). If Buyer Common
Stock is to be delivered to a person other than the person in whose name a
Common Share Certificate is so registered, the Common Share Certificate is so
surrendered shall be properly endorsed, with signatures guaranteed, or otherwise
in proper form for transfer, and the person requesting such payment shall pay
any transfer or other taxes required by reason of the delivery to a person other
than the registered holder of such Common Share Certificate surrendered, or such
person shall establish to the satisfaction of Buyer that such tax has been paid
or is not applicable. No interest shall be paid on any consideration payable in
the Merger to former holders of Common Shares.
(c) No Fractional Shares.
(i) No fractional shares of Buyer Common Stock shall be issued as
a result of the Merger. In lieu of the issuance of fractional
shares, cash adjustments will be paid to the former holder of
Common Shares in respect of any fraction of a share of Buyer
Common Stock which would otherwise be issuable under this
Agreement. Such cash adjustment shall be equal to an amount
determined by multiplying (A) the fractional share of Buyer
Common Stock to which the holder of Seller Common Stock would
be otherwise entitled under Section 2.1(c) (after aggregating
all shares of Buyer Common Stock to which such holder is
entitled), by (B) the average closing price of shares of Buyer
Common Stock on The Nasdaq Small Cap Market for the twenty
trading days immediately preceding the Effective Date.
(ii) As soon as practicable after the determination of the amount
of cash, if any, to be paid to former holders of Common Shares
with respect to any fractional share interests of Buyer Common
Stock, the Exchange Agent shall promptly pay such amounts to
such former holders of Common Shares subject to and in
accordance with the terms of this Section 2.3. Buyer will make
available to the Exchange Agent the cash necessary for this
purpose.
Section 2.4 Appraisal Rights. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement to the contrary, including but without limitation Section 6.3(f),
Common Shares held by a holder who has not voted such Common Shares in favor of
the approval of this Agreement and the Merger or consented thereto in writing
and with respect to which appraisal rights shall have been demanded and
perfected in accordance with Section 262 of the DGCL (the "Dissenting Common
Shares") and as of the Effective Time not withdrawn shall not be converted into
the right to receive the consideration payable pursuant to Section 2.1(c) at or
after the Effective Time, but such Common Shares shall become the right to
receive such consideration as may be determined to be due to holders of
Dissenting Common Shares pursuant to the laws of the State of Delaware unless
and until the holder of such Dissenting Common Shares withdraws his or her
demand for such appraisal or becomes ineligible for such appraisal. If a holder
of Dissenting Common Shares shall withdraw his or her demand for such appraisal
or shall become ineligible for such appraisal (through failure to perfect or
otherwise), then, as of the Effective Time or the occurrence of such event,
whichever last occurs, such holder's Dissenting Common Shares shall
automatically be converted into and represent the right to receive the merger
consideration as provided in Section 2.1(c). Seller shall give Buyer (i) prompt
written notice of any demands for appraisal of Common Shares received by Seller
and (ii) the opportunity to participate in and direct all negotiations and
proceedings with respect to any such demands. Seller shall not, without prior
written consent of Buyer, make any payment with respect to, or settle, offer to
settle or otherwise negotiate, any such demands.
3
Section 2.5 Seller Option Plan.
(a) Assumption of Options. Each outstanding option to purchase Common
Shares issued to employees, non-employee directors and consultants of Seller
pursuant to Seller's 1996 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan, as amended (the
"Seller Option Plan"), except for options to purchase 44,800 Common Shares
granted on October 10, 1996, as listed on Schedule 2.5 hereto which shall
terminate on the Closing, whether vested or unvested (each a "Stock Option"),
shall remain outstanding after the Effective Time and shall be assumed by Buyer.
The parties intend that Buyer's assumption of the Stock Options shall be treated
as "assuming a stock option in a transaction to which Section 424(a) applies"
within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code and this subsection (a) shall be
interpreted and applied consistent with such intent. Each Stock Option assumed
by Buyer shall be exercisable upon the same terms and conditions as under the
Seller Option Plan and applicable option agreement issued thereunder, except
that (i) such option shall be exercisable for that number of shares of Buyer
Common Stock equal to the number of Common Shares for which such option was
exercisable times the Conversion Ratio, and (ii) the exercise price of such
option shall be equal to the exercise price of such option divided by the
Conversion Ratio. The number of shares of Buyer Common Stock subject to an
option assumed by Buyer shall be rounded to the nearest whole number (with .5
rounded up) and the exercise price thereof shall be rounded up to the nearest
whole cent.
(b) Notice. As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, Buyer shall
deliver to the holders of Stock Options appropriate notices setting forth such
holders' rights pursuant to the Buyer Option Plan (as defined in Section 4.2
hereof). The agreements evidencing the grants of such Stock Options shall
continue in effect on the same terms and conditions (subject to the adjustments
required by this Section 2.5 after giving effect to the Merger).
ARTICLE 3
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
OF SELLER
Seller represents and warrants to Buyer and Acquisition Subsidiary as
follows:
Section 3.1 Organization.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 3.1 of the disclosure schedule
delivered to Buyer on or before the date hereof (the "Seller Disclosure
Schedule"), Seller is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of Delaware and has the requisite corporate power and
authority and any necessary governmental authority to own, operate or lease the
properties that it purports to own, operate or lease and to carry on its
business as it is now being conducted, and, except as set forth in Section 3.1
of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to
do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character
of its properties owned, operated or leased or the nature of its activities
makes such qualification necessary, except for such failure which, when taken
together with all other such failures, would not have a Seller Material Adverse
Effect (as defined below in Section 3.1(b)). Seller does not own or control any
subsidiary.
(b) The term "Seller Material Adverse Effect" means any individual
material adverse effect, or adverse effects which in the aggregate (whether or
not related and whether or not any individual effect is material) have a
material adverse effect, on the business, operations, properties (including
intangible properties), condition (financial or otherwise), assets or
liabilities of Seller or could reasonably be expected to prevent or materially
delay the consummation of the Merger.
Section 3.2 Capitalization.
(a) Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of Seller consists of
2,000,000 Common Shares, par value $0.001 per share and 1,000,000 shares of
Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share, of which 600,000 shares are
designated Series A Acute Preferred Shares and 2,200 shares are designated
Series B Acute Preferred Shares. The outstanding Series A Acute Preferred Shares
are convertible into 600,000 shares of Common Shares at the conversion price in
effect with respect thereto. The Series B Acute Preferred Shares are not
convertible. As of December 31, 1997, (i) 202,000 Common Shares were issued and
outstanding, (ii) 600,000 Series A Acute Preferred Shares were issued and
outstanding and were convertible into 600,000 Common Shares, (iii) 2,039 Series
B Acute Preferred Shares were issued and outstanding and held by JJDC, (iv) no
shares of Common Stock were held in the treasury of Seller, and (v) 202,300
Common Shares were reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding options
under the Seller Option Plan. Section 3.2 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets
forth a true and correct list as of December 31, 1997 of all holders of options
to purchase Common Shares, the number of such options outstanding as of such
date and the exercise price per option. All of the outstanding shares of Common
Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and
nonassessable and free of preemptive rights. Except as set forth in this Section
3.2 and in Section 3.2 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, there are no other
options, warrants or other rights, convertible debt, agreements, arrangements or
commitments of any character obligating Seller to issue or sell any shares of
capital stock of or other equity interests in Seller. Seller is not obligated to
redeem, repurchase or otherwise reacquire any of its capital stock or other
securities.
(b) Seller does not directly or indirectly own or have a right to acquire
an equity interest in any corporation, partnership, joint venture or other
business association or entity.
4
Section 3.3 Authorization; Validity of Agreement; Necessary Action. Seller
has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement,
all agreements to which Seller is or will be a party that are exhibits to this
Agreement and the Management Agreement of even date herewith between Buyer and
Seller (the "Management Agreement") and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance by
Seller of this Agreement and such other agreements and the consummation of the
Merger and of the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, have been
duly authorized by the Board of Directors of Seller and no other corporate or
stockholder action on the part of Seller is necessary to authorize the execution
and delivery by Seller of this Agreement and such other agreements and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (other than the
approval of this Agreement and the Merger by the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of Seller capital stock entitled to vote with respect
thereto). This Agreement and such other agreements have been duly executed and
delivered by Seller and, assuming due and valid authorization, execution and
delivery hereof by the other parties thereto are valid and binding obligations
of Seller, enforceable against Seller in accordance with its terms.
Section 3.4 Consents and Approvals; No Violations. Except for the filings
or the consents, authorizations or approvals under the agreements set forth in
Section 3.4 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule and the filings, permits,
authorizations, consents and approvals as may be required under, and other
applicable requirements of, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange
Act"), the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the
"HSR Act"), state securities or blue sky laws, the DGCL and the filing and
recordation of a Certificate of Merger under the DGCL, neither the execution,
delivery or performance of this Agreement by Seller nor the consummation by
Seller of the transactions contemplated hereby nor compliance by Seller with any
of the provisions hereof will (i) conflict with or result in any breach of any
provision of the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws of Seller, (ii)
require any filing with, or permit, authorization, consent or approval of any
court, arbitration tribunal, administrative agency or commission or other
governmental or other regulatory authority or agency, domestic or foreign (a
"Governmental Entity") on the part of Seller, (iii) require the consent of any
person under, result in a violation or breach of, or constitute (with or without
due notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any right of
termination, amendment, cancellation or acceleration) under, any of the terms,
conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease, license,
contract, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which Seller is a party
or by which Seller or any of its properties or assets may be bound (the "Seller
Specified Agreements"), the lack of which consent, or which violation, breach or
default, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have
a Seller Material Adverse Effect or (iv) violate any order, writ, injunction,
decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable to Seller, any of its
subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets.
Section 3.5 [RESERVED]
Section 3.6 Absence of Certain Changes. Since December 31, 1997, except as
contemplated by this Agreement, there has not been:
(a) any Seller Material Adverse Effect;
(b) any material damage, destruction or loss (whether or not covered by
insurance) with respect to any of the material assets of Seller;
(c) any issuance, redemption or acquisition of capital stock by Seller or
any declaration or payment of any dividend or other distribution in cash, stock
or property with respect to capital stock;
(d) any stock split, reverse stock split, combination, reclassification or
other similar action with respect to capital stock;
(e) any entry into any material commitment or transaction (including,
without limitation, any borrowing or capital expenditure) other than in the
ordinary course of business or as contemplated by this Agreement;
(f) any acquisition or disposition of rights (pursuant to license,
sublicense or otherwise) under or with respect to any patent, copyright,
trademark, tradename or other intellectual property right or registration
thereof or application therefor;
(g) any mortgage, pledge, security interest or imposition of lien or other
encumbrance on any material asset of Seller; or
(h) any change by Seller in accounting principles or methods except
insofar as may have been required by a change in generally accepted accounting
principles and disclosed in the Buyer Financial Statements (as defined in
Section 4.5 below).
Except as set forth in Section 3.6 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule,
since December 31, 1997 Seller has conducted its business only in the ordinary
course and in a manner consistent with past practice and has not made any
material change in the conduct of its business or operations. Except as set
forth in Section 3.6 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, no person has or will
have the right to receive any severance, bonus, other payment, increase or
change in benefits or vesting of stock options, shares or other benefits as a
result of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 3.7 No Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as set forth in Section 3.7
of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, and except as
5
reflected in the Buyer Financial Statements, Seller has no liabilities of any
nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise), except those
liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business which could not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Seller
Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.8 Litigation. Except as disclosed in Section 3.8 of the Seller
Disclosure Schedule, there is no suit, claim, action, proceeding or
investigation pending or, to the knowledge of Seller, threatened against Seller.
Except as disclosed in Section 3.8 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, Seller is
not subject to any outstanding order, writ, injunction or decree.
Section 3.9 No Default; Compliance with Applicable Laws. The business of
Seller is not being conducted in default or violation of any term, condition or
provision of (i) its certificate of incorporation or bylaws, (ii) any Seller
Specified Agreement or (iii) any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law,
ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, order, concession, grant,
franchise, permit or license or other governmental authorization or approval
applicable to Seller, excluding from the foregoing clauses (ii) and (iii),
defaults or violations which could not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Seller Material Adverse Effect. As of the date
of this Agreement, no investigation or review by any Governmental Entity or
other entity with respect to Seller is pending or, to the knowledge of Seller,
threatened, nor has any Governmental Entity or other entity indicated an
intention to conduct the same. Seller has in effect all Federal, state, local
and foreign governmental approvals, authorizations, certificates, filings,
franchises, licenses, notices, permits and rights ("Seller Permits") necessary
for it to own, lease or operate its properties and assets and to carry on its
business as now conducted, and there has occurred no default under any such
Seller Permit.
Section 3.10 Intellectual Property. Except as set forth in Section 3.10 of
the Seller Disclosure Schedule, or as could not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Seller Material Adverse Effect, Seller owns
or possesses adequate licenses or other valid rights to use all patents,
trademarks, trade names, copyrights, service marks, trade secrets, know-how and
other proprietary rights and information used or held for use in connection with
the business of Seller as currently conducted, and Seller is unaware of any
assertion or claim challenging the validity of any of the foregoing. Section
3.10 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule lists all material licenses, sublicenses
and other agreements to which Seller is a party and pursuant to which (i) any
third party is authorized to use any intellectual property right of Seller and
(ii) Seller is authorized to use any intellectual property rights (other than
pursuant to shrink-wrap licenses and other software licenses) of a third party,
true and correct copies of which have been provided to Buyer and Acquisition
Subsidiary. The conduct of the business of Seller as currently conducted does
not conflict in any way with any patent, license, trademark, or copyright of any
third party. To the knowledge of Seller, there are no infringements of any
proprietary rights owned by or licensed by or to Seller that could reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Seller Material Adverse
Effect. Seller has taken reasonable security measures to protect the
confidentiality of its trade secrets. Except as set forth in Section 3.10 of the
Seller Disclosure Schedule, all current and past employees or consultants of
Seller, who, either alone or in concert with others, developed, invented,
discovered, derived, programmed or designed such trade secrets, or who have or
had access to information disclosing such trade secrets, have entered into
confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements with Seller (the "Seller Trade
Secret Agreements"). Any exception which has been taken to the Trade Secrets
Agreements (for example an employee or consultant excluding a prior invention)
is described in Section 3.10 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, including the
exception taken and the employee taking such exception. To the knowledge of
Seller, neither Seller, nor its employees or its consultants have caused any of
Seller's trade secrets to become part of the public knowledge or literature, nor
has Seller, its employees or consultants permitted any such trade secrets to be
used, divulged or appropriated for the benefit of persons to the material
detriment of Seller.
Section 3.11 Tax Returns and Payments. Except as set forth in Section 3.11
of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, all tax returns and reports with respect to
Seller required by law to be filed under the laws of any jurisdiction, domestic
or foreign, have been duly and timely filed and all taxes, fees or other
governmental charges of any nature which were required to have been paid have
been paid or provided for. Seller has no knowledge of any unpaid taxes or any
actual or threatened assessment of deficiency or additional tax or other
governmental charge or a basis for such a claim against Seller. Seller has no
knowledge of any tax audit of Seller by any taxing or other authority in
connection with any of its fiscal years; Seller has no knowledge of any such
audit currently pending or threatened, and Seller has no knowledge of any tax
liens on any of the properties of Seller.
Section 3.12 Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. Seller has
heretofore furnished to Buyer and Acquisition Subsidiary a complete and correct
copy of the certificate of incorporation and the bylaws, each as amended to the
date hereof, of Seller. Such certificate of incorporation and bylaws are in full
force and effect. Seller is not in violation of any of the provisions of its
certificate of incorporation or bylaws.
Section 3.13 Title to Property.
(a) Seller has good and marketable title, or valid leasehold rights in the
case of leased property, to all real property and all personal property
purported to be owned or leased by it, free and clear of all material liens,
security interests, claims, encumbrances and charges, excluding (i) immaterial
liens for fees, taxes, levies, imposts, duties or governmental tax of any kind
which are not yet delinquent or are being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings which suspend the collection thereof, (ii) immaterial liens for
mechanics, materialmen, laborers, employees, suppliers or other liens arising by
operation of law for sums which are not yet delinquent or are being contested in
good faith by appropriate proceedings, (iii) purchase money liens on office,
computer and related equipment and supplies incurred in the ordinary course of
business, and (iv) liens or defects in title or leasehold rights that,
individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a
Seller Material Adverse Effect.
6
(b) Consummation of the Merger will not result in any breach of or
constitute a default (or an event with which notice or lapse of time or both
would constitute a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination
or cancellation of, or require the consent of others under, any lease in which
Seller is a lessee, except for breaches or defaults which, individually, or in
the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Seller Material
Adverse Effect.
Section 3.14 Employee Benefits and Contracts.
(a) Section 3.14 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule lists all
employee benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA")) maintained by Seller. Each of
such employee benefit plans complies in all material respects with applicable
requirements of ERISA or the Code of 1986 and no "reportable event" or
"prohibited transaction" (as such terms are defined in ERISA) has occurred with
respect to any such plan, and no termination, if it has occurred or were to
occur before the Effective Date, would present a risk of liability to any
Governmental Entity or other persons that would have a Seller Material Adverse
Effect.
(b) Seller has never maintained an employee benefit plan subject to
Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA. Each employee benefit plan of
Seller intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a
favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service confirming such
qualification. Seller has never had an obligation to contribute to a
"multi-employer plan" as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA. There are no
unfunded obligations under any employee benefit plan of Seller providing
benefits after termination of employment to any employee or former employee,
including but not limited to retiree health coverage and deferred compensation,
but excluding continuation of health coverage required to be continued under
Section 4980(B) of the Code. Each employee benefit plan of Seller may be amended
or terminated by Seller without the consent or approval of any other person.
There is no employee benefit plan, stock option plan, stock appreciation right
plan, restricted stock plan, stock purchase plan, or severance benefit plan of
Seller, any of the benefits of which will be increased or the vesting of the
benefits under which will be accelerated by the occurrence of any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the benefits under which will be
calculated on the basis of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(c) Seller is not obligated to make any parachute payment, as
defined in Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code, nor will any parachute payment be
deemed to have occurred as a result of or arising out of any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. Seller has no contract, agreement, obligation or
arrangement with any employee or other person, any of the benefits of which will
be increased or the vesting of the benefits under which will be accelerated by
any change of control of Seller or the occurrence of any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or the benefits under which will be calculated on
the basis of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 3.15 Employment; Labor Matters.
(a) Seller has delivered to Buyer true, complete and correct copies of all
employment agreements and all consulting agreements to which Seller is a party.
(b) Except as set forth in Section 3.15 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule
(i) Seller is not a party to any outstanding employment agreements or contracts
with directors, officers, employees or consultants; (ii) Seller is not a party
to any agreement, policy or practice that requires it to pay termination or
severance pay to employees (other than as required by law); and (iii) Seller is
not a party to any collective bargaining agreement or other labor union contract
applicable to persons employed by Seller, nor does Seller know of any activities
or proceedings of any labor union to organize any such employees.
Section 3.16 Brokers. No broker, finder or investment banker is entitled
to any brokerage, finder's or other fee or commission in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or
on behalf of Seller.
Section 3.17 Environmental Laws. Except as could not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Seller Material Adverse
Effect: (i) Seller is in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws (as
defined below); (ii) all past noncompliance, if any, of Seller with
Environmental Laws or Environmental Permits (as defined below) has been resolved
without any pending, ongoing or future obligation, cost or liability; and (iii)
Seller has not released or transported a Hazardous Material (as defined below),
in violation of any Environmental Law.
For purposes of this Agreement:
(a) "Environmental Law" shall mean any law and any enforceable
judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or
administrative order, consent decree or judgment, relating to pollution or
protection of the environment or natural resources, including, without
limitation, those relating to the use, handling, transportation, treatment,
storage, disposal, release or discharge of Hazardous Material, as in effect as
of the date hereof.
(b) "Environmental Permit" shall mean any permit, approval,
identification number, license or other authorization required under or issued
pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law.
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(c) "Hazardous Material" shall mean any hazardous or toxic
substance, material or waste which is or becomes regulated by any local
government authority, any state or the United State Government.
Section 3.18 Insurance. Section 3.18 of the Seller Disclosure
Schedule sets forth a true and complete list of all insurance policies in force
at the date hereof, with respect to the assets, properties or operations of
Seller. True and complete copies of all such insurance policies have been made
available to Buyer and Acquisition Subsidiary by Seller. Such policies are in
full force and effect.
Section 3.19 Contracts and Commitments.
(a) Except as disclosed in Section 3.10, 3.15 or 3.19 of the Seller
Disclosure Schedule, Seller is not a party or subject to:
(i) any plan, contract or arrangement, written or oral, which
requires aggregate payments by Seller in excess of $50,000 per year or
which provides for bonuses, pensions, deferred compensation, severance pay
or benefits, retirement payments, profit-sharing, or the like;
(ii) any joint marketing, joint development or joint venture
contract or arrangement or any other agreement which has involved or is
expected to involve a sharing of profits with other persons;
(iii) any lease for real or personal property in which the amount of
payments which Seller is required to make on an annual basis exceeds
$50,000;
(iv) any agreement, contract, mortgage, indenture, lease,
instrument, license, franchise, permit, concession, arrangement,
commitment or authorization which may be, by its terms, terminated or
breached by reason of the execution of this Agreement, the Merger, or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby;
(v) except for trade indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of
business, any instrument evidencing or related in any way to indebtedness
in excess of $50,000 incurred in the acquisition of companies or other
entities or indebtedness in excess of $50,000 for borrowed money by way of
direct loan, sale of debt securities, purchase money obligation,
conditional sale, guarantee, indemnification or otherwise;
(vi) any contract containing covenants purporting to limit Seller's
freedom to compete in any line of business or in any geographic area or
with any third party,
(vii) any agreement, contract or commitment relating to capital
expenditures and involving future obligations in excess of $50,000; or
(viii) any other agreement, contract or commitment which is material
to Seller taken as a whole.
(b) Except as disclosed in Section 3.19 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule,
each agreement, contract, mortgage, indenture, plan, lease, instrument, permit,
concession, franchise, arrangement, license and commitment listed in Section
3.19 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule is valid and binding on Seller and the
other party(ies) thereto, is in full force and effect, and neither Seller, nor
to the knowledge of Seller any other party thereto, has breached any material
provision of, or is in material default under the terms of, any such agreement,
contract, mortgage, indenture, plan, lease, instrument, permit, concession,
franchise, arrangement, license or commitment.
(c) There is no agreement, judgment, injunction, order or decree binding
upon Seller which has or could reasonably be expected to have the effect of
prohibiting or materially impairing any current business practice of Seller, any
acquisition of property by Seller or the conduct of business by Seller as
currently conducted or as proposed to be conducted by Seller.
Section 3.20 Interests of Officers and Directors. To Seller's knowledge,
except as set forth in Section 3.20 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, no
officer or director of Seller has had, either directly or indirectly, a material
interest in: (i) any person or entity which purchases from or sells, licenses or
furnishes to Seller any goods, property rights or services; (ii) except for the
employment or consulting contracts listed in Section 3.15 of the Seller
Disclosure Schedule, any contract or agreement to which Seller is a party or by
which it may be bound or affected; or (iii) any property, real or personal,
tangible or intangible, used in or pertaining to its business.
Section 3.21 Questionable Payments. Neither Seller nor to its knowledge
any director, officer, agent or other employee of Seller has: (i) made any
payments or provided services or other favors in the United States of America or
in any foreign country in order to obtain preferential treatment or
consideration by any Governmental Entity with respect to any aspect of the
business of Seller; or (ii) made any political contributions which would not be
lawful under the laws of the United States or the foreign country in which such
payments were made. Neither Seller nor to its knowledge any director, officer,
agent or other employee of Seller has been the subject of any inquiry or
investigation by any Governmental Entity in connection with payments or benefits
or other favors to or for the benefit of any governmental or armed services
official, agent, representative or employee with respect to any aspect of the
business of Seller or with respect to any political contribution.
8
Section 3.22 Certain Tax Matters. Neither Seller nor, to the knowledge of
Seller, any of its affiliates has taken or agreed to take any action that could
be expected to prevent the Merger from constituting a transaction qualifying
under Section 368 of the Code. Seller is not aware of any agreement, plan or
other circumstances that could reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger from
so qualifying under Section 368 of the Code.
ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
OF BUYER AND ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY
Buyer and Acquisition Subsidiary represent and warrant to Seller as
follows:
Section 4.1 Organization.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 4.1 of the disclosure schedule
delivered to Seller on or before the date hereof (the "Buyer Disclosure
Schedule"), each of Buyer and Acquisition Subsidiary (which is the only
subsidiary of Buyer other than Seller) is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation and has the requisite corporate power and authority and any
necessary governmental authority to own, operate or lease the properties that it
purports to own, operate or lease and to carry on its business as it is now
being conducted, and, except as set forth in Section 4.1 of the Buyer Disclosure
Schedule, is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to do business, and is in
good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of its properties owned,
operated or leased or the nature of its activities makes such qualification
necessary, except for such failure which, when taken together with all other
such failures, would not have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect (as defined below
in Section 4.1(b)).
(b) The term "Buyer Material Adverse Effect" means any individual material
adverse effect, or adverse effects which in the aggregate (whether or not
related and whether or not any individual effect is material) have a material
adverse effect, on the business, operations, properties (including intangible
properties), condition (financial or otherwise), assets or liabilities of Buyer
and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or that could reasonably be expected to
prevent or materially delay the consummation of the Merger.
(c) For purposes of this Article 4 and Article 5, Acute shall not be
considered to be a subsidiary of Buyer.
Section 4.2 Capitalization.
(a) Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of Buyer consists of
20,000,000 shares of Buyer Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, and
5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of which
2,420,282 are designated Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Series B
Preferred Stock"). As of December 31, 1997, (i) 3,176,065 shares of Buyer Common
Stock were issued and outstanding, (ii) 2,200,256 shares of Series B Preferred
Stock were issued and outstanding and were convertible into 3,424,980 shares of
Buyer Common Stock, (iii) 115,491 shares of Buyer Common Stock were held in the
treasury of the Buyer, (iv) 253,535 shares of Buyer Common Stock were reserved
for issuance upon exercise of outstanding options issued under the 1996 Stock
Option Plan of Discovery Laboratories, Inc., a former Delaware corporation ("Old
Discovery") and outside such plan and assumed by Buyer, (v) an aggregate of
116,162 shares of Buyer Common Stock were reserved for issuance under stock
options granted pursuant to Buyer's 1993 and 1995 Stock Option Plans (the "Buyer
Option Plans"), (vi) an aggregate of 2,297 shares of Buyer Common Stock were
reserved for issuance under stock options granted by Buyer outside the Buyer
Option Plans, (vii) an aggregate of 2,055,624 shares of Buyer Common Stock were
reserved for issuance under outstanding warrants as more fully described in
Section 4.2 of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, (viii) 342,499 shares of Buyer
Common Stock were reserved for issuance upon conversion of the 220,026 shares of
Series B Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, and
(ix) 173,333 shares of Buyer Common Stock were reserved for issuance upon
exercise of Buyer's outstanding unit purchase option (including warrants
issuable upon the exercise of such unit purchase option). Section 4.2 of the
Buyer Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and correct list as of December 31,
1997 of all holders of options to purchase shares of Buyer Common Stock, the
number of such options outstanding as of such date and the exercise price per
option. All of the outstanding shares of Buyer Common Stock have been duly
authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and free of
preemptive rights. Except as set forth in this Section 4.2 and Section 4.2 of
the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, there are no other options, warrants or other
rights, convertible debt, agreements, arrangements or commitments of any
character obligating Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary to issue or sell any shares
of capital stock of or other equity interests in Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary
other than Buyer's obligation to reset the conversion price applicable to the
Series B Preferred Stock under the circumstances described in Buyer's Restated
Certificate of Incorporation. Buyer is not obligated to redeem, repurchase or
otherwise reacquire any of its capital stock or other securities.
(b) Except as set forth in Section 4.2 of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule,
all of the outstanding shares of the capital stock of Acquisition Subsidiary are
beneficially owned by Buyer, directly or indirectly, and all such shares have
been duly authorized, validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and
are owned by either Buyer or one of its subsidiaries free and clear of all
liens, security interests, charges, claims or encumbrances of any nature
whatsoever. There are no existing options, calls or commitments of any character
relating to the issued or unissued capital stock or other securities of
Acquisition Subsidiary. Except as set forth in Section 4.2 of the Buyer
Disclosure Schedule, Buyer does not directly or indirectly own or have a right
to acquire an equity interest in any corporation, partnership, joint venture or
other business association or entity.
9
Section 4.3 Authorization; Validity of Agreement; Necessary Action. Each
of Buyer and Acquisition Subsidiary has full corporate power and authority to
execute and deliver this Agreement and all agreements to which Buyer and
Acquisition Subsidiary is or will be a party that are exhibits to this
Agreement, including the Employment Agreements (as defined in Section 6.2
herein), and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The
execution, delivery and performance by Buyer and Acquisition Subsidiary of this
Agreement, and the consummation of the Merger and of the other transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby, have been duly authorized by the Boards of
Directors of Buyer and Acquisition Subsidiary, as the case may be, and no other
corporate or stockholder action on the part of Buyer and Acquisition Subsidiary
is necessary to authorize the execution and delivery by Buyer or Acquisition
Subsidiary of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby (other than the approval of this Agreement and
the Merger by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares (on an
as-converted basis) of Buyer capital stock entitled to vote with respect
thereto). This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Buyer and
Acquisition Subsidiary and assuming due and valid authorization, execution and
delivery hereof by Seller, is a valid and binding obligation of Buyer and
Acquisition Subsidiary, as the case may be, enforceable against Buyer and
Acquisition Subsidiary in accordance with their respective terms.
Section 4.4 Consents and Approvals; No Violations. Except for the filings
or the consents, authorizations or approvals under the agreements set forth in
Section 4.4 of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule and the filings, permits,
authorizations, consents and approvals as may be required under, and other
applicable requirements of, the Exchange Act, the HSR Act, state securities or
blue sky laws, the DGCL and the filing and recordation of a Certificate of
Merger under the DGCL, neither the execution, delivery or performance of this
Agreement by Buyer nor the consummation by Buyer of the transactions
contemplated hereby nor compliance by Buyer with any of the provisions hereof
will (i) conflict with or result in any breach of any provision of the
certificate of incorporation or the bylaws of Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary,
(ii) require any filing with, or permit, authorization, consent or approval of,
a Governmental Entity, on the part of Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary, (iii)
require the consent of any person under, result in a violation or breach of, or
constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or
give rise to any right of termination, amendment, cancellation or acceleration)
under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage,
indenture, lease, license, contract, agreement or other instrument or obligation
to which Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary is a party or by which any of them or
any of their properties or assets may be bound (the "Buyer Specified
Agreements"), the lack of which consent, or which violation, breach or default,
individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Buyer
Material Adverse Effect, or (iv) violate any order, writ, injunction, decree,
statute, rule or regulation applicable to Buyer, Acquisition Subsidiary or any
of their properties or assets.
Section 4.5 SEC Reports and Financial Statements.
(a) Buyer has timely filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "SEC"), and has delivered to Seller, true and complete copies of, all
forms, reports, schedules, statements and other documents required to be filed
by it since January 1, 1996, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or
the Exchange Act (collectively, the "SEC Documents"). Except as set forth in
Section 4.5 of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, the SEC Documents (i) were
prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act, as the case may be, including without limitation the applicable
accounting requirements thereunder and the published rules and regulations of
the SEC with respect thereto, (ii) when filed, did not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and (iii)
taken as a whole, do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading. Acquisition Subsidiary is not required to file any
statements or reports with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act.
(b) Except as set forth in Section 4.5 of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule,
the consolidated financial statements of Buyer contained in the SEC Documents
(the "Buyer Financial Statements"), have been prepared in accordance with United
States generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") applied on a consistent
basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes
thereto) and fairly present the financial position and the results of operations
and cash flows (and changes in financial position, if any) of Buyer and
Acquisition Subsidiary as of the respective dates and for the respective periods
thereof, except that the unaudited interim quarterly financial statements were
or are subject to normal and recurring year-end adjustments which were or are
not expected to be material in amount and did not or may not have included
footnote disclosure that would otherwise be required by GAAP. Except as set
forth in Section 4.5 of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, Buyer is not aware of any
facts or circumstances which would require Buyer to amend or restate any of the
SEC Documents, including without limitation the financial information included
therein.
Section 4.6 Absence of Certain Changes. Since December 31, 1997, except as
contemplated by this Agreement or set forth in Section 4.6 of the Buyer
Disclosure Schedule, there has not been:
(a) any Buyer Material Adverse Effect;
(b) any material damage, destruction or loss (whether or not covered by
insurance) with respect to any of the material assets of Buyer or Acquisition
Subsidiary;
(c) any issuance, redemption or acquisition of capital stock by Buyer or
Acquisition Subsidiary or any declaration or payment of any dividend or other
distribution in cash, stock or property with respect to capital stock;
10
(d) any stock split, reverse stock split, combination, reclassification or
other similar action with respect to capital stock;
(e) any entry into any material commitment or transaction (including,
without limitation, any borrowing or capital expenditure) other than in the
ordinary course of business or as contemplated by this Agreement;
(f) any acquisition or disposition of rights (pursuant to license,
sublicense or otherwise) under or with respect to any patent, copyright,
trademark, tradename or other intellectual property right or registration
thereof or application therefor;
(g) any mortgage, pledge, security interest or imposition of lien or other
encumbrance on any material asset of Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary; or
(h) any change by Buyer in accounting principles or methods except insofar
as may have been required by a change in generally accepted accounting
principles and disclosed in the SEC Documents.
Except as set forth in Section 4.6 of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, since
December 31, 1997, Buyer and its subsidiaries have conducted their business only
in the ordinary course and in a manner consistent with past practice and have
not made any material change in the conduct of the business or operations of
Buyer and Acquisition Subsidiary taken as a whole. Except as set forth in
Section 4.14(b) of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, no person has or will have the
right to receive any severance, bonus, other payment, increase or change in
benefits or vesting of stock options, shares or other benefits as a result of
any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 4.7 No Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as set forth in Section 4.7
of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, and except as reflected in the Buyer Financial
Statements contained in the SEC Documents, Buyer and Acquisition Subsidiary have
no liabilities of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or
otherwise), except those liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business
which could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.8 Litigation. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents or in
Section 4.8 of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, there is no suit, claim, action,
proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of Buyer, threatened
against Buyer. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents or in Section 4.8 of the
Buyer Disclosure Schedule, neither Buyer nor Acquisition Subsidiary is subject
to any outstanding order, writ, injunction or decree.
Section 4.9 No Default; Compliance with Applicable Laws. Except as
disclosed in Section 4.9 of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, the business of each
of Buyer and Acquisition Subsidiary is not being conducted in default or
violation of any term, condition or provision of (i) its certificate of
incorporation or bylaws, (ii) any Buyer Specified Agreement or (iii) any
federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation,
judgment, decree, order, concession, grant, franchise, permit or license or
other governmental authorization or approval applicable to Buyer or Acquisition
Subsidiary, excluding from the foregoing clauses (ii) and (iii), defaults or
violations which could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in Section
4.9 of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, as of the date of this Agreement, no
investigation or review by any Governmental Entity or other entity with respect
to Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary is pending or, to the knowledge of Buyer,
threatened, nor has any Governmental Entity or other entity indicated an
intention to conduct the same. Each of Buyer and Acquisition Subsidiary has in
effect all Federal, state, local and foreign governmental approvals,
authorizations, certificates, filings, franchises, licenses, notices, permits
and rights ("Buyer Permits") necessary for it to own, lease or operate its
properties and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted, and there
has occurred no default under any such Buyer Permit.
Section 4.10 Intellectual Property. Except as set forth in Section 4.10 of
the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, or as could not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Buyer Material Adverse Effect, Buyer and its
subsidiaries own or possess adequate licenses or other valid rights to use all
patents, trademarks, trade names, copyrights, service marks, trade secrets,
know-how and other proprietary rights and information used or held for use in
connection with the business of Buyer and its subsidiaries as currently
conducted, and Buyer is unaware of any assertion or claim challenging the
validity of any of the foregoing. Section 4.10 of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule
lists all material licenses, sublicenses and other agreements to which the Buyer
or Acquisition Subsidiary is a party and pursuant to which (i) any third party
is authorized to use any intellectual property right of the Buyer or Acquisition
Subsidiary and (ii) Buyer or its subsidiaries are authorized to use any
intellectual property rights (other than pursuant to shrink-wrap licenses and
other software licenses) of a third party, true and correct copies of which have
been provided to Seller. Except as set forth in Section 4.10 of the Buyer
Disclosure Schedule, the conduct of the business of Buyer and its subsidiaries
as currently conducted does not conflict in any way with any patent, license or
copyright of any third party. To the knowledge of Buyer, except as set forth in
Section 4.10 of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, there are no infringements of any
proprietary rights owned by or licensed by or to Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary
that could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Buyer Material Adverse Effect. Buyer has taken reasonable security measures to
protect the confidentiality of its trade secrets. All current and past employees
or consultants of Buyer, who, either alone or in concert with others, developed,
invented, discovered, derived, programmed or designed such trade secrets, or who
have or had access to information disclosing such trade secrets, have entered
into confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements with Buyer (the "Buyer Trade
Secret Agreements"). Any exception which has been taken to the Buyer Trade
Secrets Agreements (for example an employee or consultant excluding a prior
invention) is described in Section 4.10 of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule,
including the exception taken and the employee taking such exception. To the
knowledge of Buyer, neither Buyer, nor its employees or its consultants have
caused any of Buyer's trade
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secrets to become part of the public knowledge or literature, nor has Buyer, its
employees or consultants permitted any such trade secrets to be used, divulged
or appropriated for the benefit of persons to the material detriment of Buyer.
Section 4.11 Tax Returns and Payments. All tax returns and reports with
respect to Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary required by law to be filed under the
laws of any jurisdiction, domestic or foreign, have been duly and timely filed
and all taxes, fees or other governmental charges of any nature which were
required to have been paid have been paid or provided for. Buyer and Acquisition
Subsidiary have no knowledge of any unpaid taxes or any actual or threatened
assessment of deficiency or additional tax or other governmental charge or a
basis for such a claim against Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary. Buyer and
Acquisition Subsidiary have no knowledge of any tax audit of Buyer or
Acquisition Subsidiary by any taxing or other authority in connection with any
of its fiscal years; Buyer and Acquisition Subsidiary have no knowledge of any
such audit currently pending or threatened, and Buyer and Acquisition Subsidiary
have no knowledge of any tax liens on any of the properties of Buyer or
Acquisition Subsidiary.
Section 4.12 Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. Buyer and
Acquisition Subsidiary have heretofore furnished to Seller a complete and
correct copy of the certificate of incorporation and the bylaws, each as amended
to the date hereof, of Buyer and Acquisition Subsidiary. Such certificate of
incorporation and bylaws are in full force and effect. Neither Buyer nor
Acquisition Subsidiary is in violation of any of the provisions of its
certificate of incorporation.
Section 4.13 Title to Property.
(a) Except as disclosed in Section 4.13 to the Buyer Disclosure Schedule,
Buyer and Acquisition Subsidiary has good and marketable title, or valid
leasehold rights in the case of leased property, to all real property and all
personal property purported to be owned or leased by them, free and clear of all
material liens, security interests, claims, encumbrances and charges, excluding
(i) immaterial liens for fees, taxes, levies, imposts, duties or governmental
tax of any kind which are not yet delinquent or are being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings which suspend the collection thereof, (ii)
immaterial liens for mechanics, materialmen, laborers, employees, suppliers or
other liens arising by operation of law for sums which are not yet delinquent or
are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (iii) purchase
money liens on office, computer and related equipment and supplies incurred in
the ordinary course of business, and (iv) liens or defects in title or leasehold
rights that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected
to have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Except as set forth in Section 4.13(b) of the Buyer Disclosure
Schedule, consummation of the Merger will not result in any breach of or
constitute a default (or an event with which notice or lapse of time or both
would constitute a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination
or cancellation of, or require the consent of others under, any lease in which
Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary is a lessee, except for breaches or defaults
which, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to
have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.14 Employee Benefits and Contracts.
(a) Section 4.14 of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule lists all employee
benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(3) of the ERISA) maintained by Buyer and
Acquisition Subsidiary. Each of such employee benefit plans complies in all
material respects with applicable requirements of ERISA or the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and no "reportable event" or "prohibited
transaction" (as such terms are defined in ERISA) has occurred with respect to
any such plan, and no termination, if it has occurred or were to occur before
the Effective Date, would present a risk of liability to any Governmental Entity
or other persons that would have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Buyer and Acquisition Subsidiary has never maintained an
employee benefit plan subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA.
Each employee benefit plan of Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary intended to be
qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable
determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service confirming such
qualification. Neither Buyer nor Acquisition Subsidiary has ever had an
obligation to contribute to a "multi-employer plan" as defined in Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA. There are no unfunded obligations under any employee
benefit plan of Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary providing benefits after
termination of employment to any employee or former employee, including but not
limited to retiree health coverage and deferred compensation, but excluding
continuation of health coverage required to be continued under Section 4980(B)
of the Code. Each employee benefit plan of Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary may
be amended or terminated by Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary without the consent
or approval of any other person. There is no employee benefit plan, stock option
plan, stock appreciation right plan, restricted stock plan, stock purchase plan,
or severance benefit plan of Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary, any of the
benefits of which will be increased or the vesting of the benefits under which
will be accelerated by the occurrence of any of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement or the benefits under which will be calculated on the basis of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except as set forth in Section
4.14(b) of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule.
(c) Neither Buyer nor Acquisition Subsidiary is obligated to make
any parachute payment, as defined in Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code, nor will
any parachute payment be deemed to have occurred as a result of or arising out
of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Neither Buyer nor
Acquisition Subsidiary has any contract, agreement, obligation or arrangement
with any employee or other person, any of the benefits of which will be
increased or the vesting of the benefits under which will be accelerated by any
change of control of Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary or the occurrence of any of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the
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benefits under which will be calculated on the basis of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement except as set forth in Section 4.14(b) of the
Buyer Disclosure Schedule.
Section 4.15 Employment; Labor Matters.
(a) Buyer has delivered to Seller true, complete and correct copies of all
employment agreements and all consulting agreements to which Buyer or
Acquisition Subsidiary is a party.
(b) Except as set forth in Section 4.15 of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule
(i) neither Buyer nor Acquisition Subsidiary is a party to any outstanding
employment agreements or contracts with directors, officers, employees or
consultants; (ii) neither Buyer nor Acquisition Subsidiary is a party to any
agreement, policy or practice that requires it to pay termination or severance
pay to employees (other than as required by law); and (iii) neither Buyer nor
Acquisition Subsidiary is a party to any collective bargaining agreement or
other labor union contract applicable to persons employed by Buyer or
Acquisition Subsidiary, nor does Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary know of any
activities or proceedings of any labor union to organize any such employees.
Section 4.16 Brokers. No broker, finder or investment banker is entitled
to any brokerage, finder's or other fee or commission in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by and
on behalf of Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary.
Section 4.17 Environmental Laws. Except as disclosed in Section 4.17 of
the Buyer Disclosure Schedule or as could not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Buyer Material Adverse Effect: (i) Buyer and
Acquisition Subsidiary is in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws;
(ii) all past noncompliance, if any, of Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary with
Environmental Laws or Environmental Permits has been resolved without any
pending, ongoing or future obligation, cost or liability; and (iii) neither
Buyer nor Acquisition Subsidiary has released or transported a Hazardous
Material, in violation of any Environmental Law.
Section 4.18 Insurance. Section 4.18 of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule sets
forth a true and complete list of all insurance policies in force at the date
hereof, with respect to the assets, properties or operations of each of Buyer
and Acquisition Subsidiary. True and complete copies of all such insurance
policies have been made available to Seller by Buyer. Such policies will not be
terminated as a result of the Merger, subject to payment of applicable premiums.
Such policies also are in full force and effect.
Section 4.19 Contracts and Commitments.
(a) Except as disclosed in Section 4.10, 4.15 or 4.19 of the Buyer
Disclosure Schedule, neither Buyer nor Acquisition Subsidiary is a party or
subject to:
(i) any plan, contract or arrangement, written or oral, which
requires aggregate payments by Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary in excess
of $50,000 per year or which provides for bonuses, pensions, deferred
compensation, severance pay or benefits, retirement payments,
profit-sharing, or the like;
(ii) any joint marketing, joint development or joint venture
contract or arrangement or any other agreement which has involved or is
expected to involve a sharing of profits with other persons;
(iii) any lease for real or personal property in which the amount of
payments which Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary is required to make on an
annual basis exceeds $50,000;
(iv) any agreement, contract, mortgage, indenture, lease,
instrument, license, franchise, permit, concession, arrangement,
commitment or authorization which may be, by its terms, terminated or
breached by reason of the execution of this Agreement, the Merger, or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby;
(v) except for trade indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of
business, any instrument evidencing or related in any way to indebtedness
in excess of $50,000 incurred in the acquisition of companies or other
entities or indebtedness in excess of $50,000 for borrowed money by way of
direct loan, sale of debt securities, purchase money obligation,
conditional sale, guarantee, indemnification or otherwise;
(vi) any contract containing covenants purporting to limit Buyer's
or Acquisition Subsidiary's freedom to compete in any line of business or
in any geographic area or with any third party,
(vii) any agreement, contract or commitment relating to capital
expenditures and involving future obligations in excess of $50,000; or
(viii) any other agreement, contract or commitment which is material
to Buyer and Acquisition Subsidiary taken as a whole.
13
(b) Except as disclosed in Section 4.19 of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule,
each agreement, contract, mortgage, indenture, plan, lease, instrument, permit,
concession, franchise, arrangement, license and commitment listed in Section
4.19 of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule is valid and binding on Buyer or
Acquisition Subsidiary and the other party(ies) thereto, as applicable, and
assuming due and valid authorization, execution and delivery by all counter
parties, is in full force and effect, and neither Buyer, Acquisition Subsidiary,
nor to the knowledge of Buyer any other party thereto, has breached any material
provision of, or is in material default under the terms of, any such agreement,
contract, mortgage, indenture, plan, lease, instrument, permit, concession,
franchise, arrangement, license or commitment.
(c) There is no agreement, judgment, injunction, order or decree binding
upon the Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary which has or could reasonably be
expected to have the effect of prohibiting or materially impairing any current
business practice of Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary, any acquisition of
property by Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary or the conduct of business by Buyer
or Acquisition Subsidiary as currently conducted or as proposed to be conducted
by Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary.
Section 4.20 Interests of Officers and Directors. To Buyer's knowledge,
except as set forth in Section 4.20 of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, no officer
or director of Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary has had, either directly or
indirectly, a material interest in: (i) any person or entity which purchases
from or sells, licenses or furnishes to Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary any
goods, property rights or services; (ii) except for the contracts listed in
Section 4.15 of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, any contract or agreement to
which Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary is a party or by which it may be bound or
affected; or (iii) any property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, used
in or pertaining to its business or that of Acquisition Subsidiary.
Section 4.21 Questionable Payments. Neither Buyer nor Acquisition
Subsidiary nor to its knowledge any director, officer, agent or other employee
of Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary has: (i) made any payments or provided
services or other favors in the United States of America or in any foreign
country in order to obtain preferential treatment or consideration by any
Governmental Entity with respect to any aspect of the business of Buyer or
Acquisition Subsidiary; or (ii) made any political contributions which would not
be lawful under the laws of the United States or the foreign country in which
such payments were made. Neither Buyer nor Acquisition Subsidiary nor to its
knowledge any director, officer, agent or other employee of Buyer or Acquisition
Subsidiary has been the subject of any inquiry or investigation by any
Governmental Entity in connection with payments or benefits or other favors to
or for the benefit of any governmental or armed services official, agent,
representative or employee with respect to any aspect of the business of Buyer
or Acquisition Subsidiary or with respect to any political contribution.
Section 4.22 Certain Tax Matters. Except as disclosed in Section 4.22 of
the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, neither Buyer nor, to the knowledge of Buyer, any
of its affiliates has taken or agreed to take any action that could be expected
to prevent the Merger from constituting a transaction qualifying under Section
368 of the Code. Buyer is not aware of any agreement, plan or other
circumstances that could reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger from so
qualifying under Section 368 of the Code.
Section 4.23 No Prior Activities. Except for obligations or liabilities
incurred in connection with its incorporation or organization or the negotiation
and consummation of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby
(including any financing), Acquisition Subsidiary has not incurred any
obligations or liabilities, and has not engaged in any business or activities of
any type or kind whatsoever or entered into any agreements or arrangements with
any person or entity. Acquisition Subsidiary is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Buyer.
ARTICLE 5
COVENANTS
Section 5.1 Interim Operations of Seller and Buyer. Seller and Buyer each
hereby covenants and agrees with the other that, except (i) as expressly
contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) as set forth in Section 5.1 of the Seller
Disclosure Schedule, (iii) as set forth in Section 5.1 of the Buyer Disclosure
Schedule or (iv) as agreed in writing by Seller and Buyer, after the execution
and delivery of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the
termination of this Agreement or the Effective Time:
(a) the business of such party and its subsidiaries shall be conducted
only in the ordinary and usual course and, to the extent consistent therewith,
each party and its subsidiaries shall use its reasonable commercial efforts to
preserve its business organization intact and maintain its existing relations
with customers, suppliers, employees, creditors and business partners;
(b) each such party shall not, directly or indirectly, amend its or any of
its subsidiaries' certificate of incorporation or bylaws or similar
organizational documents;
(c) each such party shall not, and it shall not permit its subsidiaries
to: (i)(A) declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution payable
in cash, stock or property with respect to such party's capital stock or that of
its subsidiaries, or (B) redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire directly or
indirectly any of such party's capital stock (or options, warrants, calls,
commitments or rights of any kind to acquire any shares of capital stock) or
that of its subsidiaries; (ii) issue, sell, pledge, dispose of or encumber any
additional shares of, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or
options, warrants, calls, commitments or rights of any kind to acquire, capital
stock of any class of such party or its subsidiaries, other than Common Shares
or Buyer Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options and warrants
outstanding on the date hereof and described in Section 3.2 of this Agreement or
the Seller Disclosure Schedule or Section 4.2 of this
14
Agreement or the Buyer Disclosure Schedule; (iii) split, combine or reclassify
the outstanding capital stock of such party or of its subsidiaries; or (iv)
amend or otherwise modify the terms of any rights, warrants or options with
respect to such party or of its subsidiary's capital stock;
(d) each such party shall not, and it shall not permit its subsidiaries
to, acquire or agree to acquire, or dispose of or agree to dispose of, any
material assets, either by purchase, merger, consolidation, sale of shares in
any of its subsidiaries or otherwise, other than in the ordinary course of
business;
(e) each such party shall not, and it shall not permit its subsidiaries
to, transfer, lease, license, sell, mortgage, pledge or encumber any assets;
(f) except as contemplated by Section 4.14(b), neither such party nor its
subsidiaries shall: (i) grant any increase in the compensation payable to any of
its officers, directors or key employees; or (ii)(A) adopt any new, or (B)
except as contemplated by Section 2.5, amend or otherwise increase, or
accelerate the payment or vesting of the amounts payable or to become payable
under any existing, bonus, incentive compensation, deferred compensation,
severance, profit sharing, stock option, stock purchase, insurance, pension,
retirement or other employee benefit plan, agreement or arrangement; or (iii)
enter into or modify or amend any employment or severance agreement with or,
except as required by applicable law, grant any severance or termination pay to
any officer, director or employee of Seller or any of its subsidiaries; or (iv)
enter into any collective bargaining agreement;
(g) neither such party nor any of its subsidiaries shall, without the
other party's prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld, modify, amend or terminate any of its contracts or waive, release or
assign any rights or claims;
(h) neither such party nor any of its subsidiaries shall: (i) incur or
assume any indebtedness for money borrowed; (ii) modify any such indebtedness or
other liability; (iii) assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise become liable or
responsible (whether directly, contingently or otherwise) for the obligations of
any other person, other than immaterial amounts in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice and other than for any subsidiary; (iv)
make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any
other person (other than to wholly-owned subsidiaries of such party); (v) change
any of its methods of reporting income or deductions for federal income tax
purposes from those employed in the preparation of the federal income tax
returns for the year ended December 31, 1997, or (vi) enter into any material
commitment or transaction except as contemplated by this Agreement;
(i) neither such party nor any of its subsidiaries shall change any of the
accounting methods, practices or policies used by it unless required by a change
in GAAP;
(j) such party shall not, and it shall not permit its subsidiaries to,
make or agree to make any new capital expenditures in excess of $10,000 in the
aggregate;
(k) such party shall not, and it shall not permit its subsidiaries to,
make any tax election (unless required by law) or settle or compromise any
income tax liability; and
(l) neither party nor any of its subsidiaries will enter into an
agreement, contract, commitment or arrangement to do any of the foregoing, or to
authorize, recommend, propose or announce an intention to do any of the
foregoing.
Section 5.2 Access; Confidentiality. Each of Seller and Buyer shall (and
Buyer shall cause each of its subsidiaries to) (a) afford to the officers,
employees, accountants, counsel and other representatives of Seller and Buyer,
as the case may be, reasonable access to and the right to inspect and observe,
during normal business hours during the period prior to the Effective Time, its
personnel, accountants, representatives, properties, books, contracts, insurance
policies, commitments and records, offices, plants and other facilities, (b)
make available promptly to Seller or Buyer, as the case may be (i) a copy of
each report, schedule, registration statement and other document filed or
received by it during such period pursuant to the requirements of federal
securities laws, if applicable and (ii) all other information concerning its
business, properties and personnel as Seller or Buyer may reasonably request.
Each party will treat any such information in accordance with the provisions of
the letter agreement dated the date hereof between Seller and Buyer (the
"Confidentiality Agreement"). No investigation conducted by Seller or Buyer
shall impact any representation or warranty given by Seller to Buyer hereunder.
Section 5.3 Additional Agreements. Subject to the terms and conditions
herein provided, each of the parties hereto shall use all reasonable commercial
efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all action and to do, or cause to be
done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and
regulations, or to remove any injunctions or other impediments or delays, legal
or otherwise, to consummate and make effective the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Buyer also agrees to timely file
all filings required to be made with the SEC with respect to such transactions.
15
Section 5.4 Consents and Approvals; HSR Act. Each of Seller, Buyer and
Acquisition Subsidiary will take all reasonable actions necessary to comply
promptly with all legal requirements which may be imposed on it with respect to
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (which actions shall
include, without limitation, furnishing all information required under the HSR
Act and in connection with approvals of or filings with any other Governmental
Entity) and will promptly cooperate with and furnish information to each other
in connection with any such requirements imposed upon any of them or any of
their subsidiaries in connection with this and the transactions contemplated
hereby. Each of Seller, Buyer and Acquisition Subsidiary will, and will cause
its subsidiaries to, take all reasonable actions necessary to obtain (and will
cooperate with each other in obtaining) any consent, authorization, order or
approval of, or any exemption by, any Governmental Entity or other public or
private third party required to be obtained or made by Buyer, Acquisition
Subsidiary, Seller or any of their subsidiaries in connection with the Merger or
the taking of any action contemplated thereby or by this Agreement. Each party
shall promptly inform the other party of any communication with, and any
proposed understanding, undertaking, or agreement with, any Governmental Entity
regarding any such filings or any such transaction.
Section 5.5 Exclusivity. From the date hereof until the earlier of
termination of this Agreement or consummation of the Merger, neither Seller nor
Buyer nor any of their officers, directors, employees, representatives
(including any investment banker, attorney or accountant retained by them),
agents or affiliates shall directly or indirectly encourage, solicit, initiate,
facilitate or conduct discussions or negotiations with, provide any information
to, or enter into any agreement with, any corporation, partnership, person or
other entity or group concerning or expressing an interest in or proposing any
merger, consolidation, reorganization, share exchange, business combination,
liquidation, dissolution sale of all or other significant assets or securities
or other similar transaction involving such party, except to the extent required
by their fiduciary duties as determined by the Board of Directors of such party
after discussion with their counsel.
Section 5.6 Publicity. So long as this Agreement is in effect, neither
Seller, Buyer nor any of their respective affiliates shall issue or cause the
publication of any press release or other public announcement with respect to
the Merger, this Agreement or the other transactions between the parties
contemplated hereby without the prior consultation of the other party, except as
may be required by law or by any listing agreement with a national securities
exchange or trading market.
Section 5.7 Notification of Certain Matters. Seller shall give prompt
notice to Buyer and Acquisition Subsidiary, and Buyer and Acquisition Subsidiary
shall give prompt notice to Seller, of (i) the occurrence or non-occurrence of
any event the occurrence or non-occurrence of which would cause any
representation or warranty made by such party or parties in this Agreement to be
untrue or inaccurate in any material respect at or prior to the Effective Time
and (ii) any failure of Seller, Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary, as the case may
be, to comply with or satisfy any covenant, condition or agreement to be
complied with or satisfied by it hereunder; provided, however, that the delivery
of any notice pursuant to this Section 5.7 shall not limit or otherwise affect
the remedies available hereunder to the party receiving such notice. Seller also
shall give prompt notice to Buyer, and Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary shall
give prompt notice to Seller, of:
(i) any notice or other communication from any person alleging that
the consent of such person is or may be required in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (unless the requirement for
such consent is set forth in Section 3.4 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule
or Section 4.4 of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule);
(ii) any notice or other communication from any Governmental Entity
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(iii) any actions, suits, claims, investigations or proceedings
commenced or, to its knowledge, threatened against, relating to or
involving or otherwise affecting it or any of its subsidiaries or which
relate to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement; and
(iv) any occurrence of any event having, or which could reasonably
be expected to have, a Seller Material Adverse Effect or Buyer Material
Adverse Effect.
Section 5.8 Indemnification. Notwithstanding Section 8.7 hereof, Buyer
agrees that all rights to indemnification existing in favor of directors,
officers or employees of Seller as provided in Seller's certificate of
incorporation or bylaws, with respect to matters occurring through the Effective
Time, shall survive the Merger and shall continue in full force and effect. If
the Surviving Corporation or any of its successors or assigns (i) consolidates
with or merges into any other person and shall not be the continuing or
surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii)
transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any person,
then and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that the
successors and assigns of the Surviving Corporation assume the obligations set
forth in this Section 5.8.
Section 5.9 Approval of Stockholders.
(a) Buyer shall, promptly after the date of this Agreement, take all
actions necessary in accordance with the requirements of the bylaws of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"), DGCL and its
certificate of incorporation and bylaws to convene a meeting of Buyer's
stockholders to act on this Agreement (the "Buyer Stockholders' Meeting") and
Buyer shall consult with Seller in connection therewith.
16
(b) Unless Seller's Board of Directors in the good faith exercise of its
fiduciary duties, after receiving advice from outside legal counsel, determines
not to recommend, or to withdraw its recommendation that such matters be
approved by Seller's stockholders, Seller shall, promptly after the date of this
Agreement, take all actions necessary in accordance with DGCL and its
certificate of incorporation and bylaws to obtain the unanimous written consent
of Seller's stockholders to act on this Agreement, and Seller shall consult with
Buyer in connection therewith.
Section 5.10 Buyer Proxy Statement. Unless the Board of Directors of Buyer
in the good faith exercise of its fiduciary duties determines not to recommend
the Merger and this Agreement to its stockholders (or to withdraw such
recommendation), Buyer, acting through its Board of Directors, shall, in
accordance with applicable law:
(i) after consultation with Seller and its legal counsel, diligently
prepare and file with the SEC as soon as reasonably practicable after the
date of this Agreement (but in no event later than 30 days after the date
hereof), a preliminary proxy or information statement relating to the
Merger and this Agreement and use commercially reasonable efforts (x) to
obtain and furnish the information required to be included by the SEC in
the Buyer Proxy Statement (as hereinafter defined) and, after consultation
with Seller and its counsel, to respond promptly to any comments made by
the SEC with respect to the preliminary proxy or information statement and
cause a definitive proxy or information statement, including any amendment
or supplement thereto (the "Buyer Proxy Statement") to be mailed to its
stockholders, provided that no amendment or supplement to the Buyer Proxy
Statement will be made by Buyer without consultation with Seller and its
counsel and (y) to obtain the necessary approvals of the Merger and this
Agreement by its stockholders;
(ii) prepare the preliminary proxy statement and prepare and revise
the Buyer Proxy Statement so that at the date mailed to Buyer's
stockholders and at the time of the meeting of Buyer's stockholders to be
held in connection with the Merger, the Buyer Proxy Statement will (x) not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order that the
statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
are made, not misleading (except that Buyer shall not be responsible under
this clause (ii) with respect to statements made therein based on
information supplied by Seller expressly for inclusion in the Buyer Proxy
Statement), and (y) comply in all material respects with the provisions of
the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; and
(iii) make at the Buyer's Stockholder's Meeting, and include in the
Proxy Statement, the recommendation of the Board that stockholders of
Buyer vote in favor of the approval of the Merger and the authorization
and adoption of this Agreement.
Section 5.11 Seller Information Statement.
(a) Seller shall afford Buyer and its legal counsel a reasonable
opportunity to review and comment on any solicitation materials, including
solicitation of action by written consent, that Seller distributes to its
stockholders in connection with the Merger, which shall be diligently prepared
and distributed to Seller's stockholders as soon as reasonably practicable after
the date of this Agreement and, at such date, such solicitation materials will
not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order that the
statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are
made, not misleading (except that Seller shall not be responsible under this
Section 5.11(a) with respect to statements made therein based on information
supplied by Buyer expressly for inclusion in such solicitation materials). To
the greatest extent practicable, information required to be disclosed in both
the Buyer Proxy Statement and any such solicitation materials shall be disclosed
in an identical manner.
(b) Seller shall furnish to Buyer, and revise, written information
concerning itself expressly for inclusion in the Buyer Proxy Statement,
including without limitation by reviewing and commenting (with respect to
information concerning Seller) on drafts of the Buyer Proxy Statement and the
preliminary proxy statement to be prepared pursuant to Section 5.10. Seller
shall inform Buyer of any change regarding such information so that such
Seller-furnished information will not, at both the date mailed to Buyer
stockholders and at the time of the meeting of Buyer stockholders to be held in
connection with the Merger, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact required to be stated in Seller furnished
information or necessary in order to make the statements made in
Seller-furnished information, in light of the circumstances under which they are
made, not misleading.
Section 5.12 Tax Treatment. Each party hereto shall use all reasonable
efforts to cause the Merger to qualify and shall not take, and shall use all
reasonable efforts to prevent any affiliate of such party from taking, any
actions which could prevent the Merger from qualifying as a reorganization under
the provisions of Section 368(a) of the Code.
Section 5.13 Form S-8. With respect to the Seller Option Plan, Buyer shall
take all corporate action necessary or appropriate to, as soon as practicable
after the Effective Time, file a registration statement on Form S-8 (or any
successor or other appropriate form) with respect to the shares of Buyer Common
Stock which will be subject to options outstanding under such plan as of the
Closing to the extent such registration statement is required under applicable
law in order for such shares of Buyer Common Stock to be sold without
restriction, and Buyer shall use reasonable efforts to maintain the
effectiveness of such registration statements (and maintain the current status
of the prospectuses contained therein) for so long as such options under such
plan remain outstanding.
17
Section 5.14 Reservation of Buyer Common Stock. Buyer shall reserve from
its authorized but unissued shares of Buyer Common Stock that number of shares
of Buyer Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Seller Stock Options assumed
by Buyer.
Section 5.15 Consolidation of Operations. Buyer and Seller shall cooperate
with one another with a view toward consolidating the operations of Buyer and
Seller at Seller's principal executive offices and eliminating duplicative
staffing and overhead as soon as reasonably possible.
Section 5.16 Consolidation of Board of Directors. Buyer will utilize good
faith efforts to decrease the membership of the Board of Directors of Buyer to a
total of seven (7) members by the first anniversary of the date of this
Agreement. It is agreed and understood that this Section 5.16 shall not require
(i) Buyer to amend its organizational documents or (ii) Buyer's directors to
take any actions inconsistent with their fiduciary duties.
Section 5.17 Incentive Bonus Payments. Buyer and Seller agree that the
incentive bonus payments to be made to Robert J. Capetola, pursuant to Section
4.e. of the Capetola Employment Agreement attached as Exhibit A hereto, and to
each of Harry G. Brittain, Cynthia Davis, Laurence B. Katz, Lisa Mastroianni,
Christopher Schaber, Huei Tsai and Thomas Wiswell, pursuant to Section 4.d. of
the employment agreements to be entered into with such individuals in the form
of Exhibit B hereto, shall be determined for each of the above-named individuals
by Buyer's Compensation Committee, shall be paid in either cash or equity as
determined by such Compensation Committee, shall be in the following aggregate
amounts and shall be paid upon the achievement of each of the following
milestones (which are set forth in the aforementioned agreements): (a) $150,000
upon the successful completion of Phase II studies for any compound under
development in Discovery's portfolio (each a "Portfolio Compound"); (b) $500,000
upon the successful completion of Phase II studies for any Portfolio Compound;
and (c) $1,000,000 upon receipt of marketing approval in the United States for
any Portfolio Compound. The aforementioned bonuses shall be paid only once for
each of the milestones.
ARTICLE 6
CONDITIONS
Section 6.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger.
The respective obligation of each party to effect the Merger shall be subject to
the satisfaction on or prior to the Effective Time of each of the following
conditions, any and all of which may be waived in whole or in part by Seller,
Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary, as the case may be, to the extent permitted by
applicable law:
(a) Stockholder Approval. This Agreement shall have been approved by
the requisite vote of the stockholders of Seller, Buyer and Acquisition
Subsidiary;
(b) Statutes. No statute, rule, order, decree or regulation shall
have been enacted or promulgated by any Governmental Entity which prohibits the
consummation of the Merger;
(c) Injunctions. There shall be no order or injunction of a court or
other governmental authority of competent jurisdiction in effect precluding,
restraining, enjoining or prohibiting consummation of the Merger;
(d) Tax Opinions. Buyer shall have received from Roberts, Sheridan &
Kotel, P.C., counsel to Buyer, a written opinion dated as of the Closing Date to
the effect that the Merger, when effected in accordance with this Agreement,
will qualify as a reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code; Seller shall
have received from Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP, counsel to Seller, a written
opinion dated as of the Closing Date to the effect that the Merger, when
effected in accordance with this Agreement, will qualify as a reorganization
under Section 368(a) of the Code;
(e) Capetola Employment Agreement. Robert J. Capetola shall have
entered into an employment agreement with Buyer, in the form attached as Exhibit
A hereto;
(f) Key Executive Employment Agreements. Buyer and each of Harry G.
Brittain, Cynthia Davis, Laurence B. Katz, Lisa Mastroianni, Christopher
Schaber, Huei Tsai and Thomas Wiswell shall have entered into employment
agreements as mutually agreed to by Buyer and Seller, substantially in the form
attached as Exhibit B hereto (the "Key Executive Employment Agreements");
(g) Exchange Agreement. Buyer shall have entered into the Exchange
Agreement with JJDC.
(h) Board of Directors. On the Effective Date, the Board of
Directors of Buyer shall consist of Robert J. Capetola, Steve Kanzer, Max Link,
Herbert McDade, David Naveh, Milton Packer, Richard Power, Mark Rogers, Marvin
Rosenthale, and Richard Sperber.
(i) No Litigation. After the date hereof, there shall not be
threatened, or instituted and continuing, any action, suit or proceeding against
Seller, Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary, by any Governmental Entity or any other
person directly or indirectly relating to the Merger or any other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement which individually or in the aggregate could
reasonably be expected to have a Seller Material Adverse Effect or Buyer
Material Adverse Effect.
18
Section 6.2 Additional Conditions to Obligations of Seller. The obligation
of Seller to effect the Merger is also subject to the fulfillment of the
following conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and
warranties of Buyer and Acquisition Subsidiary contained in this Agreement shall
be true and correct on the date hereof and shall also be true and correct on and
as of the Effective Time, with the same force and effect as if made on and as of
the Effective Time, unless the failure of such representations and warranties to
be true and correct could not reasonably be expected to cause, individually or
in the aggregate, a Buyer Material Adverse Effect (as applied to such dates);
(b) Agreements, Conditions and Covenants. Buyer and Acquisition
Subsidiary shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all
agreements, conditions and covenants required by this Agreement to be performed
or complied with by them on or before the Effective Time;
(c) Certificate of Chairman of the Board. Seller shall have received
a certificate of the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Buyer to the effect
that each of the conditions specified in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 6.2
have been satisfied;
(d) Stock Option Agreements. In addition to the Stock Options
assumed by Buyer under Section 2.4, Buyer shall have granted stock options
pursuant to Buyer Stock Option Plan in the forms of option agreements attached
hereto as Exhibit C, Exhibit D and Exhibit E, to certain of Seller's employees
as set forth on Schedule 6.2(d), for an aggregate of 338,500, 175,000 and
160,000 shares of Common Stock, respectively.
(e) Opinion. Seller shall have received an opinion dated as of the
Closing Date from Roberts, Sheridan & Kotel P.C., counsel to Buyer and
Acquisition Subsidiary, covering the matters set forth in Schedule 6.2(e).
(f) Registration Rights Agreement. Buyer shall have entered into a
Registration Rights Agreement with JJDC and The Scripps Research Institute,
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F.
Section 6.3 Additional Conditions to Obligations of Buyer and Acquisition
Subsidiary. The obligations of Buyer and Acquisition Subsidiary to effect the
Merger are also subject to the following conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and
warranties of Seller contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct on
the date hereof and shall also be true and correct on and as of the Effective
Time, with the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Effective Time,
unless the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct
as of such dates could not reasonably be expected to cause, individually or in
the aggregate, a Seller Material Adverse Effect (as applied to such dates);
(b) Agreements, Conditions and Covenants. Seller shall have
performed or complied in all material respects with all agreements, conditions
and covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it
on or before the Effective Time;
(c) Officer's Certificate. Buyer shall have received a certificate
of the Chief Executive Officer of Seller to the effect that each of the
conditions specified in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 6.3. have been
satisfied.
(d) Investment Agreement. Each holder of Common Shares shall have
executed and delivered to Buyer the form of Investment Agreement attached as
Exhibit G hereto.
(e) Opinion. Buyer shall have received an opinion dated as of the
Closing Date from Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP, counsel to Seller, covering
the matters set forth in Schedule 6.3(e).
(f) Dissenting Common Shares. The aggregate number of Common Shares
held by Dissenting Stockholders shall not be equal to or exceed five percent
(5%) of the outstanding Common Shares immediately prior to the Effective Time.
(g) Contractual Lock-up Agreements. Each common stockholder and
optionholder of Seller shall have entered into an agreement with Buyer
substantially in the form of Exhibit H attached hereto.
(h) Buyer Stock Option Plan. The 1998 stock option plan of Buyer
(the "1998 Stock Option Plan") in the form attached as Exhibit I hereto, shall
have been approved by the requisite vote of the stockholders of Buyer.
(i) Termination Agreement. Seller shall enter into a letter
agreement terminating the Co-Sale Agreement dated as of October 28, 1996 by and
between Seller and the stockholders listed on Schedule A thereto.
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ARTICLE 7
TERMINATION
Section 7.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time
prior to the Effective Time, whether before or after approval of the terms of
this Agreement by the stockholders of Buyer or Seller:
(a) by mutual written consent of the Boards of Directors of Buyer
and Seller;
(b) by either Buyer or Seller if any Governmental Entity shall have
issued an order, decree or ruling or taken any other action permanently
enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the Merger and
such order, decree or ruling or other action shall have become final and
nonappealable;
(c) by either Buyer or Seller, if the Merger shall not have been
consummated by [July 15], 1998; provided, however, that the right to terminate
this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(c) shall not be available to any
party whose failure (or the failure of the affiliates of which) to perform any
of its obligations under this Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted in,
the failure of the Merger to occur on or before such date; provided, further,
that for this purpose, Buyer and Seller shall not be deemed to be affiliates of
each other; directors, officers and employees of Seller shall be deemed to act
only on behalf of such Seller; and directors, officers and employees of Buyer or
Acquisition Subsidiary shall be deemed to act only on behalf of Buyer and/or
Acquisition Subsidiary; and provided further that an individual holding
positions on the boards of both Seller, on the one hand, and Buyer or
Acquisition Subsidiary, on the other hand, shall be deemed to act only on behalf
of Buyer and/or Acquisition Subsidiary unless such interpretation would be
manifestly unreasonable;
(d) by Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary, in the event of a breach by
Seller of any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained in
this Agreement which cannot be or has not been cured within thirty (30) days
after the giving of written notice to Seller and which, individually or in the
aggregate, has had or could reasonably be expected to have, a Seller Material
Adverse Effect; or
(e) by Seller, in the event of a breach by Buyer or Acquisition
Subsidiary of any of their respective representations, warranties, covenants or
other agreements contained in this Agreement, which cannot be or has not been
cured within thirty (30) days after the giving of written notice to Buyer or
Acquisition Subsidiary, and which, individually or in the aggregate, has had or
could reasonably be expected to have, a Buyer Material Adverse Effect.
Section 7.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of a termination of this
Agreement by either Seller or Buyer as provided in Section 7.1, this Agreement
shall forthwith become void and there shall be no liability or obligation on the
part of Buyer, Acquisition Subsidiary or Seller or their respective officers or
directors, except with respect to Sections 3.16, 4.16, 5.2, this Section 7.2 and
Article 8; provided, however, that nothing herein shall relieve any party of
liability for any breach this Agreement.
ARTICLE 8
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 8.1 Fees and Expenses. All fees and expenses incurred in
connection with the Merger, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring such fees or expenses,
whether or not the Merger is consummated.
Section 8.2 Amendment and Modification. Subject to applicable law, this
Agreement may be amended, modified and supplemented in any and all respects,
whether before or after any vote of the stockholders of Seller or Buyer
contemplated hereby, by written agreement of the parties hereto, at any time
prior to the Closing Date with respect to any of the terms contained herein;
provided, however, that after the approval of this Agreement by the stockholders
of Seller or Buyer, no such amendment, modification or supplement shall reduce
the amount or change the form of the consideration to be received by Seller
stockholders in the Merger.
Section 8.3 Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties. None of the
representations and warranties in this Agreement or in any schedule, instrument
or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the
Effective Time.
Section 8.4 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall
be in writing and shall be deemed given upon receipt, and shall be given to the
parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as
shall be specified by like notice):
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(a) if to Buyer or Acquisition Subsidiary, to:
Discovery Laboratories, Inc.
509 Madison Avenue
Suite 1406
New York, NY 10022
Telephone: (212) 223-9504
Facsimile: (212) 688-7978
Attention: Steve H. Kanzer, Esq.
with copies to:
Roberts, Sheridan & Kotel, P.C.
Tower Forty-Nine
12 East 49th Street
New York, NY 10017
Telephone: (212) 299-8600
Facsimile: (212) 299-8686
Attention: Kenneth G. Alberstadt, Esq.
(b) if to Seller, to:
Acute Therapeutics, Inc.
3359 Durham Road
Doylestown, PA 18901
Telephone: (215) 794-3064
Facsimile: (215) 794-3239
Attention: Robert J. Capetola, Ph. D.
with copies to:
Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP
1633 Broadway
47th Floor
New York, NY 10019
Telephone: (212) 581-1600
Facsimile: (212) 586-7878
Attention: Ellen B. Corenswet, Esq.
Section 8.5 Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement to
Sections, such reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement unless
otherwise indicated. Whenever the words "include", "includes" or "including" are
used in this Agreement they shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without
limitation". As used in this Agreement, the term "affiliate(s)" shall have the
meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. As used in this Agreement,
a "subsidiary" of any entity shall mean all corporations or other entities in
which such entity owns a majority of the issued and outstanding capital stock or
equity or similar interests.
Section 8.6 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and
shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of
the parties and delivered to the other parties.
Section 8.7 Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries; Rights of
Ownership. This Agreement and the Confidentiality Agreement (including the
documents and the instruments referred to herein and therein): (a) constitute
the entire agreement and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both
written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof,
and (b) other than the provisions of Section 5.8 hereof, nothing expressed or
implied in this Agreement is intended or will be construed to confer upon or
give to any person, firm or corporation other than the parties hereto any rights
or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated
hereby.
Section 8.8 Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction
of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other
authority to be invalid, void, unenforceable or against its regulatory policy,
the remainder of the terms, provisions,
21
covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
Section 8.9 Governing Law. This Agreement and the legal relations between
the parties hereto will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the choice of law principles
thereof.
Section 8.10 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights,
interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties
hereto (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written
consent of the other parties, except that Acquisition Subsidiary may assign, in
its sole discretion, any or all of its rights, interests and obligations
hereunder to Buyer or to any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of
Buyer. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon,
inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their respective
successors and assigns.
22
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Buyer, Acquisition Subsidiary and Seller have caused
this Agreement to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly
authorized as of the date first written above.
Buyer
By: /s/ James S. Kuo
--------------------------------------
Name: James S. Kuo, M.D.
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Acquisition Subsidiary
By: /s/ James S. Kuo
--------------------------------------
Name: James S. Kuo, M.D.
Title: President
Seller
By: /s/ Robert J. Capetola
--------------------------------------
Name: Robert J. Capetola, Ph.D.
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
23
EXHIBIT 2.2
FORM OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT is made as of the ___ day of
_________, 1998, by and among DISCOVERY LABORATORIES, INC., a Delaware
corporation, (the "Company"), JOHNSON & JOHNSON DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, a New
Jersey Corporation ("J&J") and THE SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, a California
not-for-profit organization ("Scripps") (J&J and Scripps are herein collectively
referred to as the "Stockholders").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Acute Therapeutics, Inc. ("ATI") and Scripps are parties to
the Scripps Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of October 28, 1996 (the "Scripps
Agreement"), pursuant to which Scripps acquired 40,000 shares of common stock,
$0.001 par value per share of ATI (the "ATI Common Stock");
WHEREAS, J&J, its affiliate, Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation and
ATI are parties to the Inventory Transfer/Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of
October 28, 1996 (the "Inventory Transfer Agreement"), pursuant to which ATI
issued to J&J 2,200 shares of its Non-Voting Series B Preferred Stock, $0.001
par value per share (the "ATI Series B Preferred Stock") and 40,000 shares of
ATI Common Stock;
WHEREAS, ATI, Scripps and J&J are parties to a Registration Rights
Agreement dated as of October 28, 1996 (the "ATI Registration Rights Agreement")
pursuant to which Scripps and J&J were granted certain registration rights;
WHEREAS, the Company and ATI are parties to an agreement dated March
__, 1998, whereby a newly-formed subsidiary of the Company will merge with and
into ATI and ATI will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the
"Merger Agreement");
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, each of the issued and
outstanding shares of ATI Common Stock shall be automatically converted into
3.91 shares of Common Stock of the Company, $0.001 par value per share ("the
Common Stock");
WHEREAS, the Company and J&J are parties to the Stock Exchange
Agreement of even date herewith pursuant to which J&J will exchange its ATI
Series B Preferred Stock for 2,039 shares of Series C Preferred Stock, $0.001
par value per share, of the Company ("Series C Preferred Stock") and pursuant to
which the Company will issue J&J shares of Common Stock (the "Dividend Shares")
in lieu of the accrued but unpaid dividend accrued through the date of the
Merger on its shares of ATI Series B Preferred Stock (the "Stock Exchange
Agreement");
WHEREAS, the Stockholders and the Company hereby agree that this
Registration Rights Agreement (the "Agreement") shall govern the rights of the
Stockholders to cause the Company to register the shares of Common Stock held by
the Stockholders;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE PARTIES HEREBY AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
1. Registration Rights. The Company covenants and agrees as follows:
1.1 Definitions. For purposes of this Section 1:
(a) The term "Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(b) The term "Holder" means any person owning or having the right to
acquire Registrable Securities or any assignee thereof in accordance with
Section 1.8 hereof.
(c) The term "1934 Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.
(d) The term "register", "registered," and "registration" refer to a
registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or
similar document in compliance with the Act, and the declaration or ordering of
effectiveness of such registration statement or document.
(e) The term "Registrable Securities" means (i) the Common Stock
issued by the Company pursuant to the Merger Agreement in exchange for the
shares of ATI Common Stock originally issued to Scripps pursuant to the Scripps
Purchase Agreement, (ii) the Common Stock issued by the Company pursuant to the
Merger Agreement in exchange for the shares of ATI Common Stock originally
issued to J&J pursuant to the Inventory Transfer Agreement, (iii) any Common
Stock issued upon conversion or redemption of the Series C Preferred Stock, (iv)
the Dividend Shares and (v) any Common Stock of the Company issued as (or
issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any warrant, right or other security
which is issued as) a dividend or other distribution with respect to, or
24
in exchange for or in replacement of the shares referenced in (i)-(iv) above,
that cannot be publicly resold by the holder thereof without registration under
the Act or sold in a single transaction exempt from the registration and
prospectus delivery requirement of the Act pursuant to Rule 144 thereunder, it
being understood, for the purposes of this Agreement, that Registrable
Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (1) a registration
statement covering such Registrable Securities has been declared effective and
they have been disposed of pursuant to such effective registration statement,
(2) they are transferred on the open market pursuant to any available exemption
under the Act, (3) they have been otherwise transferred and the Company has
delivered new certificates or other evidences of ownership for them not subject
to any stop transfer order or other restriction on transfer and not bearing any
legend restricting transfer in the absence of an effective registration or an
exemption from the registration requirements of the Act, (4) they have been
sold, assigned, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of by the Holder in
a transaction in which the Holder's rights under this Agreement are not assigned
or assignable, or (5) the rights of the Holder under Section 1.2 have terminated
pursuant to Section 1.9.
(f) The number of shares of "Registrable Securities then
outstanding" shall be determined by the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding which are Registrable Securities.
(g) The term "SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
1.2 Company Registration.
(a) If (but without any obligation to do so) the Company proposes to
register (including for this purpose a registration effected by the Company for
stockholders other than the Holders) any of its stock or other securities under
the Act in connection with the public offering of such securities solely for
cash (other than a registration relating solely to the sale of securities to
participants in a Company stock plan, a registration on any form which does not
include substantially the same information as would be required to be included
in a registration statement covering the sale of the Registrable Securities or a
registration in which the only Common Stock being registered is Common Stock
issuable upon conversion of debt securities which are also being registered),
the Company shall, at such time, promptly give each Holder written notice of
such registration. Upon the written request of each Holder given within twenty
(20) days after mailing of such notice by the Company in accordance with Section
2.5, the Company shall cause to be registered under the Act all of the
Registrable Securities that each such Holder has requested to be registered.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 1.2, if the
managing underwriter of an underwritten distribution advises in writing the
Company and the Holders of the Registrable Securities requesting participation
in such registration that in its good faith judgment the number of shares of
Registrable Securities and the other securities requested to be registered under
this Section 1.2 exceeds the number of shares of Registrable Securities and
other securities which can be sold in such offering, then (i) the number of
shares of Registrable Securities and other securities so requested to be
included in the offering shall be reduced to that number of shares which in the
good faith judgment of the managing underwriter can be sold in such offering
(except for shares to be issued by the Company, which shall have priority over
the Registrable Securities), and (ii) such reduced number of shares shall be
allocated among all participating Holders of Registrable Securities and holders
of other securities in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the respective
number of shares of Registrable Securities and other securities held by such
Holders at the time of filing the registration statement; provided, however,
that a minimum of thirty percent (30%) of the shares to be underwritten shall be
allocated, on a pro rata basis, to the Holders requesting inclusion in such
offering (the "selling stockholders"). For purposes of clause (ii) above
concerning apportionment, for any selling stockholder which is a holder of
Registrable Securities and which is a partnership or corporation, the affiliates
(as defined in the rules and regulations promulgated under the Act), partners,
retired partners and stockholders of such holder, or the estates and family
members of any such partners and retired partners and any trusts for the benefit
of any of the foregoing persons shall be deemed to be a single "selling
stockholder", and any pro-rata reduction with respect to such "selling
stockholder" shall be based upon the aggregate amount of shares carrying
registration rights owned by all entities and individuals included in such
"selling stockholder", as defined in this sentence.
1.3 Obligations of the Company. Whenever required under this Section
1 to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities, the Company shall,
as expeditiously as reasonably possible:
(a) Prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement with
respect to such Registrable Securities and use its best efforts to cause such
registration statement to become effective, and, upon the request of the Holders
of a majority of the Registrable Securities registered thereunder, keep such
registration statement effective for a period of up to one hundred twenty (120)
days or until the distribution contemplated in the Registration Statement has
been completed; provided, however, that (i) such 120-day period shall be
extended for a period of time equal to the period the Holder refrains from
selling any securities included in such registration at the request of an
underwriter of Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company; and (ii) in
the case of any registration of Registrable Securities on Form S-3 which are
intended to be offered on a continuous or delayed basis, such 120-day period
shall be extended, if necessary, to keep the registration statement effective
until all such Registrable Securities are sold, provided that Rule 415, or any
successor rule under the Act, permits an offering on a continuous or delayed
basis, and provided further that applicable rules under the Act governing the
obligation to file a post-effective amendment permit, in lieu of filing a
post-effective amendment which (I) includes any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the Act or (II) reflects facts or events representing a material or
fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement,
the incorporation by reference of information required to be included in (I) and
(II) above to be contained in periodic reports filed pursuant to Section 13 or
15(d) of the 1934 Act in the registration statement.
(b) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to
such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection with such
registration statement as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the
Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such
registration statement.
25
(c) Furnish to the Holders such numbers of copies of a prospectus,
including a preliminary prospectus, in conformity with the requirements of the
Act, and such other documents as they may reasonably request in order to
facilitate the disposition of Registrable Securities owned by them.
(d) Use its best efforts to register and qualify the securities
covered by such registration statement under such other securities or Blue Sky
laws of such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders;
provided that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a
condition thereto to qualify to do business or to file a general consent to
service of process in any such states or jurisdictions, unless the Company is
already subject to service in such jurisdiction and except as may be required by
the Act.
(e) In the event of any underwritten public offering, enter into and
perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary
form, with the managing underwriter of such offering. Each Holder participating
in such underwriting shall also enter into and perform its obligations under
such an agreement.
(f) Cause all such Registrable Securities registered pursuant
hereunder to be listed on each securities exchange on which similar securities
issued by the Company are then listed.
(g) Provide a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable
Securities registered pursuant hereunder and a CUSIP number for all such
Registrable Securities, in each case not later than the effective date of such
registration.
(h) Notify the participating Holders at any time when a prospectus
relating to any Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement is
required to be delivered under the Act, of the happening of any event as a
result of which the prospectus included in such registration statement, as then
in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing and promptly
file such amendments and supplements as may be necessary so that, as thereafter
delivered to such Holders of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall
not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing and use its best
efforts to cause each such amendment and supplement to become effective.
(i) Furnish on the closing date of an underwritten public offering
(i) an opinion, dated such date, of the counsel representing the Company, for
purposes of such registration, in form and substance as is customarily given by
company counsel to the underwriters in an underwritten public offering,
addressed to the underwriters, and (ii) a letter dated such date, from the
independent certified public accountants of the Company, in form and substance
as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to
underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriters.
1.4 Furnish Information. It shall be a condition precedent to the
obligations of the Company to take any action pursuant to this Section 1 with
respect to the Registrable Securities of any selling Holder that such Holder
shall furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable
Securities held by it, and the intended method of disposition of such securities
as shall be required to effect the registration of such Holder's Registrable
Securities.
1.5 Expenses of Company Registration. The Company shall bear and pay
all expenses incurred in connection with any registration, filing or
qualification of Registrable Securities with respect to the registrations
pursuant to Section 1.2 for each Holder (which right may be assigned as provided
in Section 1.8), including (without limitation) all federal and state
registration, filing, qualification fees, printers and accounting fees relating
or apportionable thereto and reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel
for the participating Holders together, but excluding underwriting discounts and
commissions relating to Registrable Securities.
1.6 Delay of Registration. No Holder shall have any right to obtain
or seek an injunction restraining or otherwise delaying any such registration as
the result of any controversy that might arise with respect to the
interpretation or implementation of this Section 1.
1.7 Indemnification. In the event any Registrable Securities are
included in a registration statement under this Section 1:
(a) To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify and
hold harmless each Holder, any underwriter (as defined in the Act) for such
Holder and each person, if any, who controls such Holder or underwriter within
the meaning of the Act or the 1934 Act, and each officer, director, employee and
agent thereof against any losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (joint or
several) to which they may become subject under the Act, or the 1934 Act or
other federal or state law, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any
of the following statements, omissions or violations (collectively a
"Violation"): (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in such registration statement, including any preliminary
prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or any amendments or
supplements thereto, (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the
Company of the Act, the 1934 Act, any state securities law or any rule or
regulation promulgated under the Act, or the 1934 Act or any state securities
law; and the Company will pay to each such Holder, underwriter or controlling
person, and each officer, director, employee and agent thereof as incurred, any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with
investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action;
provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in
26
this subsection 1.7(a) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such
loss, claim, damage, liability, or action if such settlement is effected without
the consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld),
nor shall the Company be liable in any such case for any such loss, claim,
damage, liability, or action to the extent that it arises out of or is based
upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished expressly for use in connection with such registration by
any such Holder, underwriter or controlling person.
(b) To the extent permitted by law, each selling Holder (severally
and not jointly) will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its
directors, each of its officers who has signed the registration statement, each
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act, any
underwriter, any other Holder selling securities in such registration statement
and any controlling person of any such underwriter or other Holder, against any
losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (joint or several) to which any of the
foregoing persons may become subject, under the Act, or the 1934 Act or other
federal or state law, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, or liabilities
(or actions in respect thereto) arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in
each case to the extent (and only to the extent) that such Violation occurs in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by such
Holder expressly for use in connection with such registration; and each such
Holder will pay, as incurred, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
any person intended to be indemnified pursuant to this subsection 1.7(a), in
connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage,
liability, or action; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained
in this subsection 1.7(a) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any
such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected
without the consent of the Holder, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld; provided, that, in no event shall any indemnity under this subsection
1.10(b) exceed the gross proceeds from the offering received by such Holder.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 1.7 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any
governmental action), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof
is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 1.7, deliver to
the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof and the
indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent
the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party
similarly noticed, to assume the defense thereof with counsel mutually
satisfactory to the parties; provided, however, that an indemnified party
(together with all other indemnified parties which may be represented without
conflict by one counsel) shall have the right to retain one separate counsel,
with the fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if
representation of such indemnified party by the counsel retained by the
indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing
interests between such indemnified party and any other party represented by such
counsel in such proceeding. The failure to deliver written notice to the
indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such
action, if prejudicial to its ability to defend such action, shall relieve such
indemnifying party of any liability to the indemnified party under this Section
1.7, but the omission so to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party
will not relieve it of any liability that it may have to any indemnified party
otherwise than under this Section 1.7.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 1.7 is held
by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an indemnified party
with respect to any loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense referred to
therein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified
party hereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party as a result of such loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the
indemnifying party on the one hand and of the indemnified party on the other in
connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such loss,
liability, claim, damage, or expense as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the
indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information, and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the provisions
on indemnification and contribution contained in the underwriting agreement
entered into in connection with the underwritten public offering are in conflict
with the foregoing provisions, the provisions in the underwriting agreement
shall control.
(f) The obligations of the Company and Holders under this Section
1.7 shall survive the completion of any offering of Registrable Securities in a
registration statement under this Section 1, and otherwise.
1.8 Assignment of Registration Rights. The rights to cause the
Company to register Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 1 may be
assigned (but only with all related obligations) by a Holder to a transferee or
assignee of such securities, provided: (a) the Company is, within a reasonable
time after such transfer, furnished with written notice of the name and address
of such transferee or assignee and the securities with respect to which such
registration rights are being assigned; (b) such transferee or assignee agrees
in writing to be bound by and subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement; and (c) such assignment shall be effective only if immediately
following such transfer the further disposition of such securities by the
transferee or assignee is restricted under the Act.
1.9 Termination of Registration Rights. No Holder shall be entitled
to exercise any right provided for in this Section 1 after the fifth anniversary
of the date of this Agreement.
1.10 Reports Under 1934 Act. With a view to making available to the
Holders the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the Act and any other rule or
regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit a Holder to sell Registrable
Securities to the public without registration, the Company agrees to:
27
(a) make and keep available public information, as those terms
are understood and defined in Rule 144;
(b) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other
documents required of the Company nuder the Act and the 1934 Act; and
(c) furnish to a Holder owning any Registrable Securities upon
request (i) a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the
reporting requirements of Rule 144 (at any time after 90 days after the
effective date of the first registration statement filed by the Company for an
offering of its securities to the general public), the Act and the 1934 Act (at
any time after the Company has become subject to the reporting requirements of
the 1934 Act), (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the
company and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company, and (iii)
such other information as may be reasonably required in availing any Holder of
Registrable Securities of any rule or regulation of the SEC which permits the
selling of any such Registrable Securities without registration or pursuant to
such form (at any time after the company has become subject to the reporting
requirements of the 1934 Act).
1.11 Granting of Registration Rights. The Company shall not, without
the prior written consent of the Holders of at least 50.1% of the Registrable
Securities then outstanding, grant any rights to any persons to register any
shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company that would limit the
Holders' proportional rights under Section 1.2(b). The grant of registration
rights to any person that would entitle such person to participate on a pro rata
basis in an offering under Section 1.2(b) shall not be deemed a limitation to
the Holders' proportional rights under Section 1.2(b), pursuant to this Section
1.11; provided that in no circumstance will fewer than ten percent (10%) of the
shares to be underwritten pursuant to Section 1.2(b) be allocated to the
Holders, regardless of any subsequent registration rights granted by the
Company.
2. Miscellaneous.
2.1 Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise provided herein, the
terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the respective successors and assigns of the parties (including
transferees of any shares of Registrable Securities). Nothing in this Agreement,
express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties
hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies,
obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as
expressly provided in this Agreement.
2.2 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania without regard to its
conflict of laws principles.
2.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
2.4 Titles and Subtitles. The titles and subtitles used in this
Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in
construing or interpreting this Agreement.
2.5 Notices. Unless otherwise provided, any notice required or
permitted under this Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be deemed
effectively given upon personal delivery to the party to be notified or upon
deposit with the United States Post Office, by registered or certified mail,
postage prepaid and addressed to the party to be notified at the address
indicated for such party on the signature page hereof, or at such other address
as such party may designate by ten (10) days' advance written notice to the
other parties.
2.6 Expenses. If any action at law or in equity is necessary to
enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be
entitled to reasonable attorneys' fees, costs and necessary disbursements in
addition to any other relief to which such party may be entitled.
2.7 Amendments and Waivers. Any term of this Agreement may be
amended and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived (either
generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or
prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company and the holders of
a majority of the Registrable Securities then outstanding. Any amendment or
waiver effected in accordance with this paragraph shall be binding upon each
holder of any Registrable Securities then outstanding, each future holder of all
such Registrable Securities, and the Company.
2.8 Severability. If one or more provisions of this Agreement are
held to be unenforceable under applicable law, such provision shall be excluded
from this Agreement and the balance of the Agreement shall be interpreted as if
such provision were so excluded and shall be enforceable in accordance with its
terms.
28
2.9 Aggregation of Stock. All shares of Registrable Securities held
or acquired by affiliated entities or persons shall be aggregated together for
the purpose of determining the availability of any rights under this Agreement.
2.10 Entire Agreement; Amendment; Waiver; No Further Rights. This
Agreement (including the Exhibits hereto, if any) constitutes the full and
entire understanding and agreement between the parties with regard to the
subjects hereof and thereof. The Stockholders hereby agree that they have no
further rights under the ATI Registration Rights Agreement.
[THE REST OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
29
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of
the date first above written.
DISCOVERY LABORATORIES, INC.
By:
-----------------------------------
Robert J. Capetola, Ph.D.
President
Address: ___________________________________
___________________________________
Stockholders:
JOHNSON & JOHNSON DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
By:
-----------------------------------
Address: ___________________________________
___________________________________
THE SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
By:
-----------------------------------
Address: ___________________________________
___________________________________
30
EXHIBIT 2.3
[FORM OF LOCK-UP]
______________, 1998
Discovery Laboratories, Inc.
509 Madison Avenue, 14th Floor
New York, New York 10022
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This letter agreement is in connection with the Agreement and Plan of
Merger dated as of March 5, 1998 (the "Merger Agreement") by and among Discovery
Laboratories, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), ATI Acquisition
Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company
("Acquisition Sub"), and Acute Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Acute") pursuant to which, subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger
Agreement, the undersigned may receive securities of the Company (the "Merger
Securities").
In consideration of the foregoing and in order to induce you to consummate
the merger of Acquisition Sub with and into Acute pursuant to the Merger
Agreement (the "Merger"), the undersigned hereby irrevocably agrees that it will
not on or before November 25, 1998, directly or indirectly, sell, offer,
contract to sell, transfer the economic risk of ownership in, make any short
sale, pledge or otherwise dispose of any shares of the Company's Common Stock,
or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for or any
other rights to purchase or acquire the Company's Common Stock, in each case
which are attributable to the Merger Securities, without the prior written
consent of the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the undersigned is an individual, he or
she may transfer any shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for the Company's Common Stock, in each case which
are attributable to the Merger Securities, either during his or her lifetime or
on death by will or intestacy to his or her immediate family or to a trust the
beneficiaries of which are exclusively the undersigned and/or a member or
members of his or her immediate family; provided, however, that prior to any
such transfer each transferee shall execute an agreement, satisfactory to the
Company, pursuant to which each transferee shall agree to receive and hold such
shares of Common Stock, or securities convertible into or exchangeable or
exercisable for the Common Stock, subject to the provisions hereof, and there
shall be no further transfer except in accordance with the provisions hereof.
For the purposes of this paragraph, "immediate family" shall mean lineal
descendant, father, mother, brother or sister of the transferor.
The undersigned understands that the agreements of the undersigned are
irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned's heirs, legal
representatives, successors and assigns. The undersigned agrees and consents to
the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company's transfer agent
against the transfer of the Company's Common Stock or other securities of the
Company received by the undersigned pursuant to the Merger Agreement except in
compliance with this agreement and further agrees that any stock certificates of
the Company, and any other document evidencing ownership of securities of the
Company, issued to the undersigned pursuant to the Merger Agreement shall bear
restrictive legends prohibiting transfers except in accordance with the terms of
this letter.
This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of Delaware as applied to agreements entered into and
performed by Delaware residents and entirely to be performed within Delaware.
Very truly yours,
Dated: _______________ __________________________
Signature
---------------------------
Printed Name and Title
31
EXHIBIT 10.1
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
This Management Agreement (the "Agreement"), is made and entered into as
of the 5th day of March, 1998, by and between Discovery Laboratories, Inc., a
Delaware corporation ("Discovery"), and Acute Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("ATI").
RECITALS
A. Discovery, ATI and ATI Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Discovery ("Acquisition Subsidiary"), have entered
into an Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization dated as of the date
hereof (the "Merger Agreement"), pursuant to which ATI will become a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Discovery through a merger of Acquisition Subsidiary
into ATI, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger
Agreement (the "Merger"). Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not
otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings as in the Merger
Agreement.
B. Discovery is a development stage pharmaceutical company engaged in the
development of proprietary pharmaceuticals to treat post-menopausal
osteoporosis, cystic fibrosis and other diseases. ATI is a development stage
pharmaceutical company engaged in the development of acute care pharmaceuticals
to treat Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Meconium Aspiration Syndrome and
Idiopathic Respiratory Distress Syndrome.
C. The closing under the Merger Agreement (the "Closing") is scheduled to
occur following satisfaction of all of the conditions to Closing set forth in
the Merger Agreement but no later than July 15, 1998.
D. Discovery and ATI wish to provide for a smooth and efficient transition
and integration of the businesses of Discovery and ATI, pending the closing of
the transactions provided for in the Merger Agreement. In furtherance of this
transition, Discovery has requested and ATI has agreed that the ATI management
personnel (the "ATI Management Team") will manage the operations of both
Discovery and ATI through the effective date of the Merger (the "Effective
Date"), with each member of the ATI Management Team assuming responsibilities on
behalf of, and a title at, Discovery comparable to the responsibilities and
title held by such individual at ATI.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual
covenants herein contained, IT IS AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
I. Management Services:
A. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement,
Discovery hereby engages ATI to provide, and ATI hereby accepts such engagement
and agrees to provide, operational, transition and integration management
services to Discovery. ATI shall provide such services by making available to
Discovery each member of the ATI Management Team whose entry into an employment
agreement with Discovery is a condition to any party's obligations under the
Merger Agreement. During the term of this Agreement, the ATI Management Team
shall be responsible for the overall management of the operations of Discovery
and shall report to, and shall be subject to the policies established by,
Discovery's Board of Directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no member of the
ATI Management Team shall have the authority by virtue of this Agreement to
participate in any meeting of the Board of Directors of Discovery or any
committee thereof except upon invitation. Moreover, Discovery does not delegate
to ATI under this Agreement any powers, duties or responsibilities which it is
prohibited by law from delegating.
B. Each member of the ATI Management Team shall have duties and
responsibilities on behalf of Discovery comparable to the duties and
responsibilities of such individual at ATI. Each such individual shall have the
same title at Discovery as he or she has at ATI, with the additional designation
"Acting," as set forth on Schedule A hereto.
C. During the term of this Agreement, management and supervisory personnel
of Discovery shall report to Robert J. Capetola, Ph.D., who will serve as the
Acting President and Chief Executive Officer of Discovery.
II. Option Grants. The ATI Management Team shall be granted, on the date
of this Agreement, options to purchase an aggregate of 126,500 shares of
Discovery Common Stock (allocated as per attached Schedule B), which shall vest
in accordance with Schedule B. Notwithstanding Schedule B, if the Merger has not
occurred by July 15, 1998, due to the failure of
32
Discovery or its stockholders to perform any of their obligations under the
Merger Agreement, all such options shall be immediately vested in full.
III. Term and Termination. The term of this Agreement ("Term") shall
commence on the date of this Agreement and shall terminate on the earliest to
occur of (i) the Effective Date or (ii) termination of the Merger Agreement.
IV. Compensation. If the Merger is consummated, no compensation shall be
payable to ATI or the ATI Management Team other than the options granted
pursuant to Section II hereof. If the Merger is not consummated on or prior to
July 15, 1998 due to the failure of Discovery or its stockholders to perform any
of their obligations under the Merger Agreement, Discovery shall pay to ATI on
the date of termination or July 15, 1998, whichever occurs first (the "Date of
Termination"), 50% of the salary expense attributable to the ATI Management Team
from the date of this Agreement through the Date of Termination and all the
options granted pursuant to Section II hereof shall be immediately vested in
full.
V. Indemnification.
A. Benefits Indemnification. Except as specifically provided in
Section IV hereof, Discovery and ATI shall each be liable for any wages or
benefits earned or accrued by each of its employees and owing to them under
applicable law, their respective policies and procedures or otherwise and each
of Discovery and ATI shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless each other party
and its respective employees from and against any and all costs, expenses and
liabilities with respect thereto (the "Benefits Indemnity"). The parties
specifically acknowledge and agree that in the event of the termination of this
Agreement other than upon the Closing, such Benefits Indemnity shall survive the
termination of this Agreement.
B. Director and Officer Indemnification. The ATI Management Team
shall be indemnified by Discovery with respect to their actions as acting
officers of Discovery during the term of this Agreement to the same extent that
Discovery's officers and directors are indemnified by Discovery.
VI. Assignment. This Agreement and the duties hereunder shall not be
assigned or delegated in whole or in part by either party, it being understood
and agreed that this Agreement is personal to Discovery and ATI.
VII. Notices. All notices required or permitted hereunder shall be given
in writing and shall be delivered in the manner and at the addresses set forth
in the Merger Agreement.
VIII. Relationship of the Parties. The relationship of the parties shall
be that of independent contractors and all acts performed by ATI during the Term
by ATI shall be deemed to be performed in its capacity as an independent
contractor. Nothing contained in this Agreement is intended to or shall be
construed to give rise to or create a partnership or joint venture between
Discovery, its successors and assigns on the one hand, and ATI, its successors
and assigns on the other hand. With respect to situations that involve a
potential conflict of interest between Discovery and ATI in the course of ATI's
duties under this Agreement, unless otherwise specifically agreed between
Discovery and ATI, the employees of ATI shall be deemed to act only on behalf of
ATI and the employees of Discovery shall be deemed to act only on behalf of
Discovery.
IX. Entire Agreement, Governing Law. This Agreement contains the entire
agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of their successors, and shall be
interpreted, construed, governed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the
State of New York, without regard to conflicts of law principles of such state.
This Agreement may not be modified or amended except by written instrument
signed by both of the parties hereto.
X. Captions. The captions used herein are for convenience of reference
only and shall not be construed in any manner to limit or modify any of the
terms hereof.
XI. Severability. In the event one or more of the provisions contained in
this Agreement is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect
under applicable law, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining
provisions hereof shall not in any way be impaired thereby.
XII. Cumulative; No Waiver. A right or remedy herein conferred upon or
reserved to either of the parties hereto is intended to be cumulative of any
other right or remedy, and each and every right and remedy shall be cumulative
and in addition to any other right or remedy given hereunder, or now or
hereafter legally existing upon the occurrence of an event of default hereunder.
The failure of either party hereto to insist at any time upon the strict
observance or performance of any of the provisions of this Agreement or to
exercise any right or remedy as provided in this Agreement shall not impair any
such right or remedy or be construed as a waiver or relinquishment thereof with
respect to subsequent defaults. Every right and remedy given by this Agreement
to the parties hereof may be exercised from time to time and as often as may be
deemed expedient by the
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parties thereto, as the case may be.
XIII. Authorization for Agreement. Each of Discovery and ATI represents
and warrants that the execution and performance of this Agreement by Discovery
and ATI have been duly authorized by all necessary resolutions and corporate
action, and this Agreement constitutes the valid and enforceable obligations of
Discovery and ATI in accordance with its terms.
XIV. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, and all such counterparts
shall together constitute but one and the same Agreement.
XV. No Effect on Merger Agreement. Each of the parties hereby acknowledges
and agrees that entry into this Agreement, and the performance of their
respective obligations hereunder, shall have no effect on the Merger Agreement
including, without limitation, the
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satisfaction of the conditions thereto or any rights of the parties with
respect to termination thereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have hereto caused this Agreement to be
duly executed, as of the day and year first above written.
DISCOVERY LABORATORIES, INC.
/s/ James S. Kuo
----------------------------------
By: James S. Kuo, M.D.
Its: President
ACUTE THERAPEUTICS, INC.
/s/ Robert J. Capetola
----------------------------------
By: Robert J. Capetola, Ph.D.
Its: President and Chief Executive Officer
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SCHEDULE A
ATI MANAGEMENT TEAM
Name Title
- ---- -----
Harry G. Brittain, Ph.D. Acting Vice President of Pharmaceutical
Development
Robert J. Capetola, Ph.D. Acting President and Chief Executive Officer
Cynthia Davis Acting Controller
Laurence B. Katz, Ph.D. Acting Vice President of Project
Administration and Clinical Administration
Lisa Mastroianni Acting Director of Clinical Evaluation
Christopher Schaber Acting Vice President of Regulatory Affairs
and Quality Assurance
Huei Tsai, Ph.D. Acting Vice President of Biometrics
Thomas Wiswell, M.D. Acting Vice President of Clinical Research
Joan Marie Brown
SCHEDULE B
Name Options to be Issued*
- ---- ---------------------
Harry G. Brittain, Ph.D. 14,813
Joan Marie Brown 670
Robert J. Capetola, Ph.D. 43,010*/
Cynthia Davis 4,428
Laurence B. Katz, Ph.D. 14,813
Lisa Mastroianni 4,326
Christopher Schaber 14,813
Huei Tsai, Ph.D. 14,813
Thomas Wiswell, M.D. 14,813
Total 126,500
=======
- ----------
* All options, other than those granted to Robert J. Capetola, will vest in
three equal annual installments, the first installment of which will vest
on the first year anniversary of the Closing of the Merger;
notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Merger has not occurred by July 15,
1998 due to the failure of Discovery or its stockholders to perform any of
their obligations under the Merger Agreement, all such options shall be
immediately vested in full.
*/ These option vest in full on the date of grant.
EXHIBIT 99.1
Discovery Laboratories and Acute Therapeutics Enter Into Agreement and Plan
of Merger
NEW YORK, March 10, 1998--Discovery Laboratories, Inc. (Discovery) (Nasdaq:
DSCO, DSCOU) announced today that it has entered into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger with its majority-owned subsidiary, Acute Therapeutics, Inc. (ATI) and
ATI Acquisition Corp. pursuant to which Discovery will acquire all outstanding
shares of common stock of ATI through a merger of ATI Acquisition Corp. into
ATI. The merger will result in 100% ownership by Discovery of ATI's product
portfolio and is expected to strengthen Discovery's management team and
consolidate development activities. Discovery's headquarters will be relocated
to ATI's Doylestown, Pa. location. Upon consummation of the merger, the
stockholders of ATI will be issued 3.91 shares of Discovery common stock in
exchange for each share of ATI common stock held by them prior to the
transaction (the exchange ratio). Certain outstanding ATI options for the
purchase of ATI common stock will be assumed by Discovery and will become
exercisable for shares of Discovery common stock on the basis of the exchange
ratio.
Discovery and ATI have also entered into a Management Agreement providing for
the management of Discovery by the ATI management team pending completion of the
merger. Pursuant to the Management Agreement, members of the ATI management team
have been granted options to purchase 126,500 shares of Discovery common stock,
subject to vesting.
The transaction is subject to approval by the stockholders of Discovery and ATI
and a number of other conditions, including the execution of employment
agreements by Robert J. Capetola, Ph.D. (currently Chief Executive Officer of
ATI) and other key executives of ATI and the election at Discovery's 1998 Annual
Meeting of a Board of Directors of Discovery consisting of six of Discovery's
current directors (three of whom are also directors of ATI) and four of ATI's
current directors. In addition, pursuant to their employment agreements with
Discovery, the ATI management team will be granted, in the aggregate, options to
purchase (i) 338,500 shares of Discovery common stock subject to vesting, (ii)
175,000 shares of Discovery common stock at such time as the market
capitalization of Discovery exceeds $75 million and (iii) 160,000 shares of
Discovery common stock upon consummation of a corporate partnering deal having a
total value of at least $20 million. The Discovery common stock to be issued to
ATI stockholders and the ATI options to be assumed in the merger, together with
the options to be issued to ATI management members pursuant to their employment
agreements with Discovery and the options granted pursuant to the Management
Agreement, will represent approximately 24% of Discovery's common stock on a
fully-diluted basis.
ATI's lead product in development is Surfaxin(TM) for the treatment of acute
respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Surfaxin(TM) is a novel, proprietary,
peptide-containing lung surfactant invented at The Scripps Research Institute.
The peptide is KL4, a 21 amino acid peptide modeled after the important SP-B
protein in the human surfactant system. Lung surfactants are protein-lipid
complexes that coat the airsacs of the lung and facilitate oxygen exchange with
blood. ARDS is an acute generalized inflammatory disease of the lung affecting
approximately 150,000 persons per year in the U.S. and has an associated
mortality rate of approximately 50%. As previously announced on February 9,
1998, ATI has completed its Phase 1B clinical trial of Surfaxin(TM) in ARDS.
Discovery Laboratories, Inc. is a New York City based development stage
pharmaceutical company that is clinically developing proprietary pharmaceuticals
to treat post-menopausal osteoporosis, cystic fibrosis and other diseases. ATI,
a Doylestown, Pa. company, concentrates its efforts on developing acute care
pharmaceuticals and is actively developing therapies for ARDS, meconium
aspiration syndrome and idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome. Discovery's
strategy is to accelerate and lower the risk of drug development by acquiring
and developing proprietary pharmaceuticals for which significant animal and
human testing has already been completed. In addition, Discovery seeks to
minimize the cost of drug development by outsourcing preclinical development and
manufacturing. More information about Discovery is available on the company's
web site at: www.discoverylabs.com
To the extent that statements in this press release are not strictly historical,
including statements as to future financial conditions, events conditioned on
stockholder or other approval, or otherwise as to future events, such statements
are forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements contain
in this release are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from the statements made. Among the factors
which could affect the Company's actual results and could cause results to
differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements contained herein
are the risk that financial conditions may change, risks relating to the
progress of the Company's research and development and the development of
competing therapies and/or technologies by other companies. Those associated
risks and others are further
described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact:
Robert J. Capetola, Ph.D.
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Acute Therapeutics, Inc.
215/794-3064
or
Steve H. Kanzer, CPA, Esq.
Chairman
Discovery Laboratories, Inc.
212/554-4330
or
Dian Griesel, Ph.D.
The Investor Relations Group, Inc.
212/664-8489