Filed
Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5) and Rule 424(b)(8)
Registration No. 333-252931
EXPLANATORY
NOTE
This
filing is being made pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5) and Rule 424(b)(8) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, solely to add the
Calculation of Filing Fee table with respect to the Prospectus Supplement dated February 10, 2021 filed by Cassava Sciences, Inc.
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) relating to its 4,081,633 shares of common stock at a price of
$49.00. While the required filing fee was submitted to the SEC prior to the filing
of such prospectus supplement, the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table was inadvertently omitted from such prospectus supplement and is
included herein. This filing does not amend, modify, or alter such prior filing in any other respect. No changes have been made to
the prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus.
PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT
(to
the Prospectus dated February 10, 2021)
CASSAVA
SCIENCES, INC.
4,081,633
Shares of Common Stock
We
are offering 4,081,633 shares of our common stock at a price of $49.00 per share to certain institutional and accredited investors
pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus.
Our
common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market, or Nasdaq, under the symbol “SAVA.” On February 9, 2021, the closing
price of our common stock was $57.56 per share. Recently, the trading price of our common stock has increased significantly, which
we believe is attributable to the positive results we announced in connection with an interim analysis from an open-label study
of simufilam, our lead drug candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. On December 31, 2020, the last reported
sale price of our common stock was $6.82 per share, as compared to $57.56, which was the last reported sale price on February
9, 2021. The intra-day price of our common stock had a high and low on February 4, 2021 of $117.54 and $63.01, respectively.
There is a potential for rapid and substantial decreases in the price of our common stock, including decreases unrelated to our
operating performance or prospects, which may cause you to lose some or all of your investment.
We
have engaged H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, or Wainwright or the placement agent, to act as our exclusive placement agent for
this offering. The placement agent has agreed to use its “reasonable best efforts” to arrange for the sale of our
common stock offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus, but the placement agent has no obligation
to purchase or sell any of such shares or to arrange for the purchase or sale of any specific number or dollar amount of such
shares. There is no required minimum number of shares of our common stock that must be sold as a condition to completion of this
offering. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to closing this offering, the actual offering amount,
placement agent fees, and proceeds to us, if any, are not presently determinable and may be substantially less than the total
maximum offering amounts set forth below. We have not arranged to place the funds from investors in an escrow, trust or similar
account. We have agreed to pay the placement agent the fees set forth in the table below in connection with this offering, which
assumes that we sell all of the shares of common stock we are offering hereby.
| |
Per Share | | |
Total | |
Offering price | |
$ | 49.00 | | |
$ | 200,000,017.00 | |
Placement agent’s fees | |
$ | 2.45 | | |
$ | 10,000,000.85 | |
Proceeds to us (before expenses) | |
$ | 46.55 | | |
$ | 190,000,016.15 | |
Delivery
of the shares of common stock offered hereby is expected to be made on or about February 12, 2021, subject to customary closing
conditions.
Investing
in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making any investment decision, you should carefully review and consider
all the information in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference
herein and therein, including the risks and uncertainties described under “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-3 of
this prospectus supplement, page 4 of the accompanying prospectus, the risk factors incorporated by reference into this prospectus
supplement and the accompanying base prospectus and any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection
with this offering.
Neither
the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities
or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to
the contrary is a criminal offense.
We
have applied to list the shares offered hereby on the Nasdaq Capital Market.
H.C.
Wainwright & Co.
The
date of this prospectus supplement is February 10, 2021.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Prospectus
Supplement
Prospectus
This
prospectus supplement describes the terms of this offering and adds to and updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus.
The accompanying prospectus provides more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering. Generally, when we
refer to this prospectus, we are referring to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus combined. To the extent
there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus supplement, on the one hand, and the information contained
in the accompanying prospectus, on the other hand, you should rely on the information contained in this prospectus supplement.
You
should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not, and the placement
agent has not, authorized anyone to provide additional information or information different from that contained or incorporated
by reference in this prospectus. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it.
This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, the securities offered by this
prospectus in any jurisdiction where it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation. Neither the delivery of this prospectus
nor the sale of shares of common stock means that information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus is correct
after its respective dates. These documents do not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of any offer to buy these shares
of common stock in any circumstances under which the offer or solicitation is unlawful.
Unless
otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to “Cassava Sciences,”
“we,” “us,” “our” or “the company” are to Cassava Sciences, Inc.
STATEMENT
REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This
prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus contains certain statements that are considered forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995. We intend that such statements be protected by the
safe harbor created thereby. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies,
anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can
identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,”
“expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “should,”
“will” and “would” or the negatives of these terms or other comparable terminology. The forward-looking
statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations of our future performance, taking into account all information
currently available to us. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and our actual results and the timing of
events may differ significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Examples of such forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to statements about:
|
● |
our
intention to initiate a Phase 3 clinical program with simufilam in Alzheimer’s disease, the anticipated scope of Phase
3 studies and our estimated timeline for doing so; |
|
|
|
|
● |
our
reliance on third-party contractors to make drug supply for our Phase 3 clinical program, or their ability to do so on-time
or on-budget; |
|
|
|
|
● |
our
intention to initiate a cognition maintenance study with simufilam in Alzheimer’s
disease; |
|
|
|
|
● |
limitations
around the interpretation of cognitive results from an open-label study design compared to efficacy results from a fully completed,
randomized controlled study design; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
expected rate of cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer’s disease over 6-months; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
use of ADAS-cog, NPI or other clinical scales to measure changes in cognition or health in patients; |
|
|
|
|
● |
plans
to announce results of any additional interim analyses of an on-going open-label study of simufilam and our estimated timeline
for doing so; |
|
|
|
|
● |
any
significant changes we have made, or anticipate making, to the design of an on-going open-label study of simufilam; |
|
|
|
|
● |
announcements
regarding the results of a January 2021 meeting held with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the timing thereof; |
|
|
|
|
● |
our
ability to initiate, conduct or analyze additional clinical and non-clinical studies with our product candidates targeted
at Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
interpretation of results of our Phase 2 clinical studies; |
|
|
|
|
● |
our
estimated timeline for publishing in a peer-reviewed journal any clinical results of our Phase 2b study of simufilam; |
|
|
|
|
● |
our
plans to initiate a validation study of SavaDx, our investigational blood-based diagnostic, and our estimated timeline for
doing so; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
safety, efficacy, or potential therapeutic benefits of our product candidates; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
utility of protection, or the sufficiency, of our intellectual property; |
|
|
|
|
● |
our
potential competitors or competitive products; |
|
|
|
|
● |
expected
future sources of revenue and capital and increasing cash needs; |
|
|
|
|
● |
our
continued reliance on clinical sites to conduct clinical studies of our product candidates; |
|
|
|
|
● |
expectations
regarding trade secrets, technological innovations, licensing agreements and outsourcing of certain business functions; |
|
|
|
|
● |
our
expenses increasing or fluctuations in our financial or operating results; |
|
|
|
|
● |
our
operating losses and anticipated operating and capital expenditures; |
|
|
|
|
● |
expectations
regarding the issuance of shares of common stock to employees pursuant to equity compensation awards, net of employment taxes; |
|
|
|
|
● |
expectations
regarding the issuance of shares of common stock to employees pursuant to equity compensation awards, net of employment taxes; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
development and maintenance of our internal systems and infrastructure; |
|
|
|
|
● |
our
need to hire additional personnel and our ability to attract and retain such personnel; |
|
|
|
|
● |
existing
regulations and regulatory developments in the United States and other jurisdictions; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
sufficiency of our current resources to continue to fund our operations; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
accuracy of our estimates regarding expenses, capital requirements, and needs for additional financing; |
|
|
|
|
● |
assumptions
and estimates used for our disclosures regarding stock-based compensation; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
long-term impact of Covid-19, a novel coronavirus first detected in 2019, on our operations and financial condition. |
Such
forward-looking statements and our business involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the following:
| ● | We
are in the early stages of clinical drug development and have a limited operating history
in our business targeting Alzheimer’s disease and no products approved for commercial
sale. |
| | |
| ● | We
are heavily dependent on the successful clinical and regulatory development of a single
product candidate in a single therapeutic indication and any clinical failures or major
delay may jeopardize the success of the entire Company. |
| | |
| ● | The
FDA’s guidance to industry for product candidates for Alzheimer’s disease
continues to be in flux, which makes it difficult to predict the time, cost and regulatory
requirements for potential product approval. |
| | |
| ● | We
have incurred significant net losses in each period since our inception and anticipate
that we will continue to incur net losses for the foreseeable future. |
| ● | Research
and development of biopharmaceutical products is a highly uncertain undertaking and involves
a substantial degree of risk and our business is heavily dependent on the successful
development of our product candidates. |
| | |
| ● | If
we fail to obtain additional financing, we may be unable to complete the clinical
development of our product candidates. |
| | |
| ● | We
may not be successful in our efforts to continue to develop product candidates or commercially
successful products. |
| | |
| ● | We
may not be successful in our efforts to expand indications for product candidates. |
| | |
| ● | We
are concentrating a substantial portion of our research and development efforts on the
diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, an area of research that has recorded
many clinical failures. |
| | |
| ● | We
may encounter substantial delays in our clinical trials or may not be able to conduct
or complete our clinical trials on the timelines we expect, if at all. |
| | |
| ● | Our
clinical trials may fail to demonstrate evidence of the safety and efficacy of our product
candidates, which would prevent, delay, or limit the scope of regulatory approval and
the commercialization of our product candidates. |
| | |
| ● | We
may be unable to protect our intellectual property rights or trade secrets. |
| | |
| ● | We
may be subject to third-party claims of intellectual property infringement. |
| | |
| ● | We
may not succeed in our maintenance or pursuit of licensing rights or third-party intellectual
property necessary for the development of our product candidates. |
| | |
| ● | Enacted
or future legislation or regulatory actions may adversely affect our product pricing,
or limit the reimbursement we may receive for our products. |
| | |
| ● | A
significant breakdown, security breach or interruption affecting our internal computer
systems, or those used by our third-party research collaborators, may compromise the
confidentiality of our financial or proprietary information, result in material disruptions
of our products and operations and adversely affect our reputation. |
| | |
| ● | We
may be unsuccessful at hiring and retaining qualified personnel. |
| | |
| ● | Adverse
circumstances caused by disease epidemics or pandemics, such as Coronavirus Disease 2019,
or COVID-19, a novel coronavirus first detected in 2019. |
Please
also refer to the section entitled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, as such risk factors may be amended, updated or modified periodically in our reports
filed with the SEC, and the financial data and related notes and the reports incorporated by reference in this prospectus, for
further information on these and other risks affecting us.
We
caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because our future results may differ materially from those
expressed or implied by them. We do not intend to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, relating to the
matters discussed in this prospectus, except as required by law.
PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY
This
summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. This summary
does not contain all of the information that you should consider before making an investment decision. Before you decide to invest
in our common stock, you should carefully read this prospectus supplement in its entirety and carefully consider the risks and
uncertainties described in “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus and our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, as such risk factors may be amended, updated or modified
periodically in our reports filed with the SEC, and the financial data and related notes and the reports incorporated by reference
herein and therein.
Company
Overview
Cassava
Sciences, Inc. is a clinical stage biotechnology company. Our mission is to detect and treat neurodegenerative diseases, such
as Alzheimer’s disease. Our novel science is based on stabilizing – but not removing – a critical protein in
the brain.
Over
the past 10 years, we have combined state-of-the-art technology with new insights in neurobiology to develop novel solutions for
Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Our strategy is to leverage our unique scientific/clinical platform
to develop a first-in-class program for treating neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s.
We
currently have two clinical-stage biopharmaceutical assets under development:
| ● | our
lead therapeutic product candidate, called simufilam , for the treatment of Alzheimer’s
disease; and |
| | |
| ● | our
lead investigational diagnostic product candidate, called SavaDx, to detect Alzheimer’s
disease from a small sample of blood, possibly years before the overt appearance of clinical
symptoms. |
Our
scientific approach for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease seeks to simultaneously improve both neurodegeneration and
neuroinflammation. We believe our ability to improve multiple vital functions in the brain represents a new, different and crucial
approach to address Alzheimer’s disease.
We
were incorporated in Delaware in May 1998. Our principal executive offices are located at 7801 N Capital of Texas Highway, Suite
260, Austin, TX, 78731 and our telephone number at that address is (512) 501-2444.
Additional
information regarding our company is set forth in documents on file with the SEC and incorporated by reference in this prospectus,
as described below under the sections entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain
Documents by Reference.
Recent
Developments
On January 14,
2021, we held an End-of-phase 2 (EOP2) meeting with the FDA. The EOP2 meeting objectives were to gain general agreement around
a Phase 3 clinical program and to identify outstanding data requirements, if any, to support the statutory requirements for a
New Drug Application (NDA) submission under Section 505(b)(1) of the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act and marketing approval of simufilam
for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease. We plan to announce further details regarding our EOP2 meeting
during the first quarter of 2021, pending receipt of official FDA meeting minutes.
On February 2, 2021,
we announced results of an interim analysis from an open-label study of simufilam. Patients’ cognition and behavior scores
both improved following six months of simufilam treatment, with no safety issues. In the study, six months of simufilam treatment
improved cognition scores by 1.6 points on ADAS-Cog11, a 10% mean improvement from baseline to month 6. In these same patients,
simufilam also improved dementia-related behavior, such as anxiety, delusions and agitation, by 1.3 points on the Neuropsychiatric
Inventory, a 29% mean improvement from baseline to month 6. The safety profile of simufilam in the interim analysis was consistent
with prior human studies. There were no drug-related serious adverse events. Adverse events were mild and transient. Based
on these results and other factors, we announced significant changes to the design of our open-label study, including a 50% increase
in the enrollment target and other potential enhancements to the study design.
On February 8, 2021, we announced additional changes to our open-label
program with simufilam in Alzheimer’s disease. We plan to initiate a 6-month, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled
study in patients with Alzheimer’s disease who complete at least one year of open-label treatment with simufilam. This is
a cognition maintenance study (CMS), in which patients who complete one year of open-label treatment will subsequently be randomized
(1:1) to simufilam or placebo for six months. The CMS is designed to compare simufilam’s effects on cognition and behavior
in patients who continue with drug treatment versus those who discontinue drug treatment.
The
Offering
Securities
Offered in This Offering |
|
4,081,633
shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share |
|
|
|
Offering
Price |
|
$49.00
per share |
|
|
|
Common
Stock Outstanding Before This Offering |
|
25,578,673
shares(1) |
|
|
|
Common
Stock to be Outstanding After This Offering |
|
29,660,306
shares(1) |
|
|
|
Use
of Proceeds |
|
We
expect to use the net proceeds received from this offering, if any, for working capital and general corporate purposes, including
development of simufilam, our lead drug candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. See “Use of Proceeds”
on page S-6. |
|
|
|
Risk
Factors |
|
Investing
in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before you decide to invest in our common stock, you should carefully read
this prospectus supplement in its entirety and carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in “Risk Factors”
beginning on page S-3 of this prospectus supplement, beginning on page 4 of the accompanying base prospectus and in our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, as such risk factors may be amended, updated or modified
periodically in our reports filed with the SEC, and the financial data and related notes and the reports incorporated by reference
herein and therein. |
|
|
|
Nasdaq
Capital Market Symbol |
|
SAVA |
| (1) | Based
on 25,578,673 shares of our common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2020 and excludes,
as of that date, the following: |
| ● | 838,333
shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants having a weighted-average
exercise price of $1.25 per share; |
| ● | 2,870,017
shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding options having a weighted-average
exercise price of $11.81 per share; |
| ● | 138,055
shares of common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of outstanding restricted
stock units; |
| ● | 287,188
shares of common stock reserved for issuance and available for future grant under our
2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan; and |
| ● | 58,017
shares of common stock reserved for issuance and available for future grant under our
Employee Stock Purchase Plan. |
RISK
FACTORS
An
investment in our common stock is subject to risk. Our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be materially
adversely affected by any of these risks. The trading price of our common stock could decline due to any of these risks, and you
may lose all or part of your investment. Before you decide to invest in our common stock, you should carefully read this prospectus
supplement in its entirety and carefully consider the risks described herein and “Risk Factors” in the accompanying
base prospectus and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, as such risk factors may be amended,
updated or modified periodically in our reports filed with the SEC, and the financial data and related notes and the reports incorporated
by reference herein or therein.
Risks
Related to this Offering and Our Common Stock
We
have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds from this offering and may not use them effectively.
Our
management has broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering, and you will not have the opportunity
as part of your investment decision to assess whether the net proceeds are being used appropriately. Our management could spend
the net proceeds from this offering in ways that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the value of our common stock.
The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could result in financial losses that could have a material adverse
effect on our business, cause the price of our common stock to decline and delay the development of our product candidates. Pending
their use, we may invest the net proceeds from this offering in a manner that does not produce income or that loses value.
You
could lose all of your investment.
An
investment in our common stock is speculative and involves a high degree of risk. Potential investors should be aware that the
value of an investment in us may go down as well as up. In addition, there can be no certainty that the market value of an investment
in us will fully reflect its underlying value. You could lose your entire investment.
If
you purchase shares of common stock sold in this offering, you will incur immediate and substantial dilution.
If
you purchase shares of our common stock in this offering, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution in the pro forma
net tangible book value per share after giving effect to this offering because the price that you pay will be substantially greater
than the pro forma net tangible book value per share of the common stock that you acquire. For more information, see “Dilution.”
You
may experience future dilution under our equity incentive plans, and when we otherwise issue additional as a result of future
equity offerings or other equity issuances.
We
may sell additional equity or debt securities to fund our operations, which may result in dilution to our stockholders and impose
restrictions on our business.
In order to raise
additional capital, we may in the future offer and issue additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible
into or exchangeable for our common stock. The securities purchase agreements that we entered into with the purchasers of our
common stock in this offering require that we not issue, enter into any agreement to issue or announce the issuance or proposed
issuance of any shares of our common stock from the date of this prospectus supplement to 30 days thereafter, and as a result,
we have suspended sales under our Sales Agreement, or the ATM Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2020, with SVB Leerink LLC, during
such period. Under the securities purchase agreement, we also may not enter into any agreement to issue or announce the issuance
or proposed issuance of any shares involving a variable rate transaction from the date of this prospectus supplement to 90 days
thereafter. We cannot assure you that we will be able to sell shares or other securities in any other offering at a price per
share that is equal to or greater than the price per share paid by investors in this offering, and investors purchasing our shares
or other securities in the future could have rights superior to existing shareholders. The price per share at which we sell additional
shares of our common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock in future transactions may be higher
or lower than the price per share in this offering. In addition, we have also registered all of the shares of common stock that
we may issue under our stock option and employee stock purchase plans, and as of September 30, 2020, 2,870,017 shares of common
stock were issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding under our stock option plans at a weighted average exercise
price of $11.81 per share, 138,055 shares of common stock were issuable upon the vesting and settlement of outstanding restricted
stock units, 287,188 additional shares of common stock were reserved for potential future issuance under our stock option
plan, and an aggregate of 58,017 shares of common stock were reserved for potential future issuance under our 2000 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan. You will incur dilution upon the grant of any shares pursuant to such plan, upon vesting of any stock awards under
any such plan, or upon exercise of any such outstanding options or warrants.
Sales of a substantial number of
shares of our common stock, including by us following expiration or early release of the 30-day lock-up or our directors
and executive officers following expiration or early release of the 90-day lock-up, in the public market could occur
at any time. These sales, or the perception in the market that the holders of a large number of shares of our common stock intend
to sell shares, could cause the market price of our common stock to decline significantly.
Sales of substantial
amounts of our common stock in the public market, or the availability of such shares for sale, by us or others, including the
issuance of common stock upon exercise of outstanding options or warrants, could adversely affect the price of our common stock.
In connection with this offering, we have agreed not to sell new securities, other than excluded issuances, for a period of 30
days following this offering, and our directors and executive officers have agreed not to transfer securities, other than excluded
transfers, for a period of 90 days following this offering. In addition, other than any shares held by our directors, officers
and certain existing investors, all shares of our common stock are currently freely tradable, and the shares to be sold in this
offering, other than certain shares held by our directors, officers and certain investors, will be freely tradable, without restriction,
in the public market immediately following this offering.
As
of September 30, 2020, we had an aggregate of approximately: (i) 838,333 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding
warrants having a weighted-average exercise price of $1.25 per share; (ii) 2,870,017 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise
of outstanding options having a weighted-average exercise price of $11.81 per share; (iii) 138,055 shares of common stock issuable
upon the vesting and settlement of outstanding restricted stock units; (iv) 287,188 shares of common stock reserved for issuance
and available for future grant under our 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan; and (v) 58,017 shares of common stock reserved for issuance
and available for future grant under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
Sales
of a significant number of shares of our common stock in the public markets, or the perception that such sales could occur, could
depress the market price of our common stock.
Sales
of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public markets, or the perception that such sales could occur, could
depress the market price of our common stock and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities.
We may issue and sell additional shares of our common stock in the public markets including, without limitation, through our “at-the-market”
offering program, underwritten public offerings, privately negotiated transactions, block trades, or any combination of the above.
We cannot predict the effect that future sales of our common stock would have on the market price of our common stock.
The
market price of our common stock may be volatile, which could result in substantial losses for investors who purchase our shares;
and the volatility in the stock prices of other companies may contribute to volatility in our stock price.
Our
common stock has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations and may continue to experience volatility in the future.
You may not be able to sell your shares quickly or at the latest market price if trading in our stock is not active or the volume
is low. Some of the factors that may cause the market price of our common stock to fluctuate include:
| ● | the
success of existing or new competitive products or technologies; |
| | |
| ● | the
timing and results of clinical studies for our current product candidates and any future
product candidates that we may develop; |
| | |
| ● | failure
or discontinuation of any of our product development and research programs; |
| | |
| ● | results
of preclinical studies, clinical studies, or regulatory approvals of product candidates
of our competitors, or announcements about new research programs or product candidates
of our competitors; |
| | |
| ● | regulatory
or legal developments in the United States and other countries; |
| | |
| ● | developments
or disputes concerning patent applications, issued patents, or other proprietary rights; |
| | |
| ● | the
recruitment or departure of key personnel; |
| ● | the
level of expenses related to any of our research programs, clinical development programs,
or product candidates that we may develop; |
| | |
| ● | the
results of our efforts to develop additional product candidates or products; |
| | |
| ● | actual
or anticipated changes in estimates as to financial results, development timelines, or
recommendations by securities analysts; |
| | |
| ● | announcement
or expectation of additional financing efforts; |
| | |
| ● | sales
of our common stock by us, our insiders, or other stockholders; |
| | |
| ● | variations
in our financial results or those of companies that are perceived to be similar to us; |
| | |
| ● | changes
in estimates or recommendations by securities analysts, if any, that cover our stock; |
| | |
| ● | market
conditions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors; and |
| | |
| ● | general
economic, industry, and market conditions. |
Recently,
the trading price of our common stock has increased significantly, which we believe is attributable to the positive results we
announced in connection with an interim analysis from an open-label study of simufilam, our lead drug candidate for the treatment
of Alzheimer’s disease. On December 31, 2020, the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $6.82
per share, as compared to $57.56, which was the closing price on February 9, 2021. In addition, there has been volatility for
our intra-day common stock price. For example, the high and low intra-day prices on February 4, 2021 were $117.54 and $63.01,
respectively. As a result, there is a potential for rapid and substantial decreases in the price of our common stock, including
decreases unrelated to our operating performance or prospects.
In
recent years, the stock market in general, Nasdaq, and the markets for early stage companies and pharmaceutical and biotechnology
companies, has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to changes
in the operating performance of the companies whose stock is experiencing those price and volume fluctuations. Broad market and
industry factors may seriously affect the market price of our common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance. Following
periods of such volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been
brought against that company. Because of the potential volatility of our stock price, we may become the target of securities litigation
in the future. Securities litigation could result in substantial costs and divert management’s attention and resources from
our business.
A
possible “short squeeze” due to a sudden increase in demand of our common stock that largely exceeds supply may lead
to further price volatility in our common stock.
Investors
may purchase shares of our common stock to hedge existing exposure in our common stock or to speculate on the price of our common
stock. Speculation on the price of our common stock may involve long and short exposures. To the extent aggregate short exposure
exceeds the number of shares of our common stock available for purchase in the open market, investors with short exposure may
have to pay a premium to repurchase our common stock for delivery to lenders of our common stock. Those repurchases may in turn,
dramatically increase the price of our common stock until investors with short exposure are able to purchase additional shares
of common stock to cover their short position. This is often referred to as a “short squeeze.” A short squeeze could
lead to volatile price movements in shares of our common stock that are not directly correlated to the performance or prospects
of our company and once investors purchase the shares necessary to cover their short position the price of our common stock may
decline.
Because
we do not intend to declare cash dividends on our shares of common stock in the foreseeable future, stockholders must rely on
appreciation of the value of our common stock for any return on their investment.
Other
than our special nondividend distributions in December 2012 and December 2010, we have not paid cash dividends on our common stock.
We currently anticipate that we will retain future earnings for the development, operation and expansion of our business and do
not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. In addition, the terms of any existing or future
debt agreements may preclude us from paying dividends. As a result, we expect that only appreciation of the price of our common
stock, if any, will provide a return to investors in this offering for the foreseeable future.
USE
OF PROCEEDS
We
estimate the net proceeds to us from the sale of our common stock in this offering, if any, will be approximately $189.7 million,
after deducting the placement agent fees and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
We
intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital and general corporate purposes, including development of
simufilam, our lead drug candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. This represents our best estimate of the manner
in which we will use any net proceeds we receive from this offering based on the status of our business, but we have not reserved
or allocated amounts for specific purposes and we cannot specify with certainty how or when we would use any net proceeds. For
example, while we do not have any current plans or understandings to do so, we may also use a portion of the net proceeds from
this offering for capital expenditures, licensing or acquiring intellectual property or technologies to incorporate into our products
and product candidates or our research and development programs, to fund possible investments in complementary businesses or partnerships,
or for payment of cash bonuses our board of directors may declare under our previously disclosed 2020 Cash Incentive Bonus Plan.
We will have broad discretion in the application of any net proceeds we receive from this offering, and we could use any such
proceeds for purposes other than those currently contemplated.
Pending
their ultimate use, we intend to invest the net proceeds in a variety of securities, which may include commercial paper, government
and non-government debt securities and/or money market funds that invest in such securities.
DILUTION
If
you invest in our common stock, your interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the price per share you
pay in this offering and the net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this offering. Net tangible
book value per share is determined by dividing our total tangible assets, less total liabilities, by the number of shares of our
common stock outstanding as of a particular date.
As
of September 30, 2020, our net tangible book value was approximately $23.7 million, or $0.92 per share of our common stock,
based upon 25,578,673 shares of our common stock outstanding as of that date. After giving effect to the completion of a public
offering pursuant to our prospectus dated November 13, 2020, in which we sold 9,375,000 shares of common stock for net proceeds
of $70.3 million, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of September 30, 2020 was approximately $93.9 million, or $2.69 per
share of our common stock, based upon 34,953,673 shares of our common stock.
After
giving effect to the assumed sale of 4,081,633 shares of common stock in this offering at a price of $49.00 per share, and after
deducting estimated placement agent fees and other estimated offering expenses paid or payable by us, our pro forma as adjusted
net tangible book value as of September 30, 2020 would have been approximately $283.6 million, or approximately $7.27 per share.
This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $4.58 per share to our existing stockholders and immediate
dilution in net tangible book value of $41.73 per share to purchasers in this offering. The following table illustrates this calculation
on a per share basis:
Offering
price per share in this offering | |
| | | |
$ | 49.00 | |
Net
tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2020 | |
$ | 0.92 | | |
| | |
As
adjusted tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2020 | |
$ | 2.69 | | |
| | |
Increase
in pro forma, as adjusted net tangible book value per share attributable to purchasers in this offering | |
$ | 4.58 | | |
| | |
Pro
forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share immediately after this offering | |
| | | |
$ | 7.27 | |
Dilution
per share to purchasers in this offering | |
| | | |
$ | 41.73 | |
The
above discussion and table are based on 25,578,673 shares of common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2020, and excludes all
of our securities issued subsequent to that date, except as noted with respect to adjustments for our November 2020 public offering,
and also excludes, as of that date:
| ● | 838,333
shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants having a weighted-average
exercise price of $1.25 per share; |
| ● | 2,870,017
shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding options having a weighted-average
exercise price of $11.81 per share; |
| ● | 138,055
shares of common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of outstanding restricted
stock units; |
| ● | 287,188
shares of common stock reserved for issuance and available for future grant under our
2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan; and |
| ● | 58,017
shares of common stock reserved for issuance and available for future grant under our
Employee Stock Purchase Plan. |
The
above illustration of dilution per share to investors participating in this offering assumes no exercise of options or warrants
to purchase shares of our common stock. The exercise of any such securities may increase dilution to purchasers in this offering.
In addition, depending on market conditions, our capital requirements and strategic considerations, we may need to pursue additional
equity or convertible debt financings in the near term. Also, we may issue equity or convertible debt securities for other purposes,
including, among others, stock splits, acquiring other businesses or assets or in connection with strategic alliances, attracting
and retaining employees with equity compensation, anti-takeover purposes or other transactions. To the extent we raise additional
capital or pursue any of these other purposes through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of these
securities could result in further dilution to our stockholders.
PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION
We
engaged H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, or Wainwright or the placement agent, to act as our exclusive placement agent to solicit
offers to purchase the shares of our common stock offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus.
Wainwright is not purchasing or selling any such shares, nor is it required to arrange for the purchase and sale of any specific
number or dollar amount of such shares, other than to use its “reasonable best efforts” to arrange for the sale of
such shares by us. Therefore, we may not sell all of the shares of our common stock being offered. The terms of this offering
were subject to market conditions and negotiations between us, Wainwright and prospective investors. Wainwright will have no authority
to bind us by virtue of the engagement letter. We have entered into a securities purchase agreement directly with certain institutional
and accredited investors who have agreed to purchase shares of our common stock in this offering. We will only sell to investors
who have entered into the securities purchase agreement.
Delivery
of the shares of common stock offered hereby is expected to take place on or about February 12, 2021, subject to satisfaction
of certain conditions.
We
have agreed to pay the placement agent a total cash fee equal to 5.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds of this offering. The following
table shows the per share and total cash fees we will pay to the placement agent in connection with the sale of our shares of
common stock in this offering, assuming the purchase of all of the shares we are offering.
Per share | |
$ | 2.45 | |
Total | |
$ | 10,000,000.85 | |
We
estimate the total expenses of this offering paid or payable by us, excluding the placement agent fees in the table above, will
be approximately $300,000. After deducting the fees due to the placement agent and our estimated expenses in connection
with this offering, we expect the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $189.7 million.
The
placement agent may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act, and any commissions
received by it and any profit realized on the sale of our shares of common stock offered hereby by it while acting as principal
might be deemed to be underwriting discounts or commissions under the Securities Act. The placement agent will be required to
comply with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including, without limitation, Rule 10b-5 and Regulation
M under the Exchange Act. These rules and regulations may limit the timing of purchases and sales of our securities by the placement
agent. Under these rules and regulations, the placement agent may not (i) engage in any stabilization activity in connection with
our securities; and (ii) bid for or purchase any of our securities or attempt to induce any person to purchase any of our securities,
other than as permitted under the Exchange Act, until they have completed their participation in the distribution.
Indemnification
We
have agreed to indemnify the placement agent against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act and liabilities
arising from breaches of representations and warranties contained in our engagement letter with the placement agent. We have also
agreed to contribute to payments the placement agent may be required to make in respect of such liabilities.
In
addition, we will indemnify the purchaser of shares of our common stock in this offering against liabilities arising out of or
relating to (i) any breach of any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made by us in the securities purchase
agreement or related documents or (ii) any action instituted against a purchaser by a third party (other than a third party who
is affiliated with such purchaser) with respect to the securities purchase agreement or related documents and the transactions
contemplated thereby, subject to certain exceptions.
Other
Relationships
From
time to time, Wainwright has provided and may provide in the future various advisory, investment and commercial banking
and other services to us in the ordinary course of business, for which they have received and may continue to receive customary
fees and commissions. However, except as disclosed in this prospectus supplement, we have no present arrangements with Wainwright
for any further services. In connection with our November 2020 underwritten offering, Wainwright served as underwriter, for
which it received compensation.
Trading
Market
Our
common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SAVA.”
LEGAL
MATTERS
The
validity of the securities offered by this prospectus supplement will be passed upon for us by Morrison & Foerster LLP, San
Francisco, California. The placement agent is being represented in connection with this offering by Ellenoff Grossman & Schole
LLP, New York, New York.
EXPERTS
The
financial statements of Cassava Sciences, Inc. appearing in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2019
have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon,
included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements as of December 31, 2019 are incorporated herein
by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
INCORPORATION
OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The
SEC allows us to incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement certain information we file with it, which means that
we can disclose important information by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered
to be a part of this prospectus supplement, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede
information contained in this prospectus supplement. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below that we have previously
filed with the SEC (excluding any portions of any Form 8-K that are not deemed “filed” pursuant to the General Instructions
of Form 8-K):
| ● | our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, filed on March
26, 2020; |
| ● | our
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020 and
September 30, 2020, filed on May 6, 2020, August 12, 2020 and November 9, 2020; |
| ● | our
definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on March 26, 2020; |
| ● | our
Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 11, 2020, May 15, 2020, June 3,
2020, June 19, 2020, September 1, 2020, September 10, 2020, September 14, 2020, November
4, 2020, November 13, 2020, December 11, 2020, January 6, 2021 and February 8, 2021;
and |
| ● | the
description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A as
filed with the SEC on March 15, 2000, and any further amendment or report filed hereafter
for the purpose of updating such description pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange
Act. |
We
also incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement additional documents that we may file with the SEC under Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the completion or termination of the offering, including all such documents
we may file with the SEC on or after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration
statement, but excluding any information deemed furnished and not filed with the SEC. Any statements contained in a previously
filed document incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement is deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of
this prospectus supplement to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus supplement, or in a subsequently filed
document also incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes that statement.
As
explained below in “Where You Can Find More Information,” these incorporated documents (as well as other documents
filed by us under the Exchange Act) are available at the SEC and may be accessed in a number of ways, including online via the
Internet.
We
will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus supplement is delivered, upon
written or oral request of that person, a copy of any or all of the documents we are incorporating by reference into this prospectus
supplement, other than exhibits to those documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into those
documents. Such written requests should be addressed to:
Cassava
Sciences, Inc.
7801 N Capital of Texas Highway, Suite 260
Austin, TX 78731
United States of America
Attn: Investor Relations
Telephone: (512) 501-2444
WHERE
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We
have filed with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities Act that registers the securities offered hereby. The registration
statement, including the exhibits and schedules attached thereto and the information incorporated by reference therein, contains
additional relevant information about the securities and our company, which we are allowed to omit from this prospectus supplement
pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. In addition, we file annual, quarterly and other reports, proxy statements and
other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K, including any amendments to those
reports, and other information that we file with or furnish to the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, can also be accessed free of charge through the Internet by visiting our website
at www.cassavasciences.com. These filings will be available as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such
material with, or furnish it to, the SEC.
Information
and materials contained on our website, except for our SEC filings expressly described above, are neither incorporated by reference
into this prospectus supplement nor a part hereof or any other document we file with or furnish to the SEC.
PROSPECTUS
Common
stock
Preferred
stock
Depositary
shares
Warrants
Rights
Debt
securities
Units
From
time to time, we may offer and sell, in one or more offerings, in amounts, at prices and on terms determined at the time of any
such offering, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants, debt securities, and rights to purchase such
securities, either individually or in units.
This
prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement, which will describe the method and
the terms of the offering. We will provide you with specific the amount, price and terms of the applicable offered securities
in one or more supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any supplement carefully before you purchase
any of our securities.
Our common stock is listed
on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SAVA.” On February 9, 2021, the closing price of our common
stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $57.56 per share. The
trading price of our common shares has recently increased significantly, which we believe is attributable to our recently announced
positive results from an interim analysis from an open-label study of simufilam, our lead drug candidate for the treatment of
Alzheimer’s disease. On December 31, 2020, the last reported sale price of our common shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market
was $6.82 per share.
Investing
in our securities involves risk. Please carefully read the information under “Risk Factors” beginning on page 4 for
information you should consider before investing in our securities.
Neither
the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or
determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
We
may offer the securities in amounts, at prices and on terms determined at the time of offering. We may sell the securities directly
to you, through agents we select, or through underwriters and dealers we select. If we use agents, underwriters or dealers to
sell the securities, we will name them and describe their compensation in a prospectus supplement. In addition, the underwriters
may overallot a portion of the securities. For additional information regarding the methods of sale of our securities, you should
refer to the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus.
This
prospectus is dated February 10, 2021.
Table
of Contents
ABOUT
THIS PROSPECTUS
This
prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC,
using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may, from time to time, offer or sell any combination
of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.
This
prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide
a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may
also add to, update or change information contained in the prospectus or in the documents incorporated by reference in the prospectus.
To the extent inconsistent, information in this prospectus is superseded by the information in the prospectus supplement.
The
prospectus supplement to be attached to the front of this prospectus may describe, as applicable: the terms of the securities
offered; the initial public offering price; the price paid for the securities; net proceeds; and the other specific terms related
to the offering of the securities.
You
should only rely on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or
issuer free writing prospectus relating to a particular offering. No person has been authorized to give any information or make
any representations in connection with this offering other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus,
any accompanying prospectus supplement and any related issuer free writing prospectus in connection with the offering described
herein and therein, and, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized
by us. Neither this prospectus nor any prospectus supplement nor any related issuer free writing prospectus shall constitute an
offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy offered securities in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful for such person
to make such an offering or solicitation. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration
statement. For a more complete understanding of the offering of the securities, you should refer to the registration statement,
including its exhibits. You should read the entire prospectus and any prospectus supplement and any related issuer free writing
prospectus, as well as the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or any related
issuer free writing prospectus, before making an investment decision. Neither the delivery of this prospectus or any prospectus
supplement or any issuer free writing prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall under any circumstances imply that the information
contained or incorporated by reference herein or in any prospectus supplement or issuer free writing prospectus is correct as
of any date subsequent to the date hereof or of such prospectus supplement or issuer free writing prospectus, as applicable.
PROSPECTUS
SUMMARY
The
following summary highlights information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference. While we have included what
we believe to be the most important information about the company and this offering, the following summary may not contain all
the information that may be important to you. You should read this entire prospectus carefully, including the risks of investing
discussed under “Risk Factors” beginning on page 4, the information to which we refer you and the information incorporated
into this prospectus by reference, for a complete understanding of our business and this offering. References in this prospectus
to “our company,” “we,” “our,” “Cassava Sciences” and “us” refer to
Cassava Sciences, Inc.
Cassava
Sciences, Inc.
Overview
Cassava
Sciences, Inc. is a clinical stage biotechnology company. Our mission is to detect and treat neurodegenerative diseases, such
as Alzheimer’s disease. Our novel science is based on stabilizing – but not removing – a critical protein in
the brain.
Over
the past 10 years, we have combined state-of-the-art technology with new insights in neurobiology to develop novel solutions for
Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Our strategy is to leverage our unique scientific/clinical platform
to develop a first-in-class program for treating neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s.
We
currently have two clinical-stage biopharmaceutical assets under development:
| ● | our
lead therapeutic product candidate, called simufilam, for the treatment of Alzheimer’s
disease; and |
| | |
| ● | our
lead investigational diagnostic product candidate, called SavaDx, to detect Alzheimer’s
disease from a small sample of blood, possibly years before the overt appearance of clinical
symptoms. |
Our
scientific approach for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease seeks to simultaneously improve both neurodegeneration and
neuroinflammation. We believe our ability to improve multiple vital functions in the brain represents a new, different and crucial
approach to address Alzheimer’s disease.
Corporate
Information
We
were incorporated in Delaware in May 1998. Our principal executive offices are located at 7801 N Capital of Texas Highway, Suite
260, Austin, TX, 78731 and our telephone number at that address is (512) 501-2444.
The
securities we may offer
We
may offer common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants, debt securities, and rights to purchase such securities,
either individually or in units, in one or more offerings and in any combination. This prospectus provides you with a general
description of the securities we may offer. A prospectus supplement, which we will provide each time we offer securities, will
describe the specific amounts, prices and terms of these securities.
We
may sell the securities to or through underwriters, dealers or agents or directly to purchasers or as otherwise set forth below
under “Plan of Distribution.” We, as well as any agents acting on our behalf, reserve the sole right to accept and
to reject in whole or in part any proposed purchase of securities. Each prospectus supplement will set forth the names of any
underwriters, dealers, agents or other entities involved in the sale of securities described in that prospectus supplement and
any applicable fee, commission or discount arrangements with them.
Common
stock
We
may offer shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share, either alone or underlying other registered securities convertible
into our common stock. Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends declared by our board of directors out of
funds legally available for the payment of dividends, subject to rights, if any, of preferred stockholders. Currently, we do not
pay a dividend. Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote per share. The holders of common stock have no preemptive
rights.
Preferred
stock and depositary shares
We
may issue preferred stock in one or more series. Our board of directors or a committee designated by the board will determine
the dividend, voting and conversion rights and other provisions at the time of sale. Each series of preferred stock will be more
fully described in the particular prospectus supplement that will accompany this prospectus, including redemption provisions,
rights in the event of liquidation, dissolution or the winding up of Cassava Sciences, Inc., voting rights and rights to convert
into common stock. We may also issue fractional shares of preferred stock that will be represented by depositary shares and depositary
receipts. Each particular series of depositary shares will be more fully described in the prospectus supplement that will accompany
this prospectus.
Warrants
We
may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock or debt securities. We may issue warrants independently or
together with other securities.
Rights
We
may issue rights to purchase our debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or other securities. We may issue rights independently
or together with other securities.
Debt
securities
We
may offer secured or unsecured obligations in the form of one or more series of senior or subordinated debt. The senior debt securities
and the subordinated debt securities are together referred to in this prospectus as the “debt securities.” The senior
debt securities will have the same rank as all of our other unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities generally will
be entitled to payment only after payment of our senior debt. Senior debt generally includes all debt for money borrowed by us,
except debt that is stated in the instrument governing the terms of that debt to be not senior to, or to have the same rank in
right of payment as, or to be expressly junior to, the subordinated debt securities. We may issue debt securities that are convertible
into shares of our common stock.
The
senior and subordinated debt securities will be issued under separate indentures between us and a trustee. We have summarized
the general features of the debt securities to be governed by the indentures. These indentures have been filed as exhibits to
the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. We encourage you to read these indentures. Instructions on how
you can get copies of these documents are provided under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
Units
We
may offer units comprised of common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants, debt securities, or any combination
thereof.
RISK
FACTORS
An
investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. The prospectus supplement applicable to each offering of our securities
will contain a discussion of the risks applicable to an investment in our securities. Prior to making a decision about investing
in our securities, you should carefully consider the specific factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in
the applicable prospectus supplement, together with all of the other information contained or incorporated by reference in the
prospectus supplement or appearing or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should also consider the risks, uncertainties
and assumptions discussed under Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2019 which are incorporated herein by reference, and may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time
by other reports we file with the SEC in the future and any prospectus supplement related to a particular offering. The risks
and uncertainties we have described are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us
or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our operations.
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This
prospectus and the registration statement of which it forms a part, any prospectus supplement, any related issuer free writing
prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into these documents contain forward-looking statements within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements
deal with our current plans, intentions, beliefs and expectations and statements of future economic performance. Statements containing
terms such as “believe,” “do not believe,” “plan,” “expect,” “intend,”
“estimate,” “anticipate” and other phrases of similar meaning are considered to contain uncertainty and
are forward-looking statements. In addition, from time to time we or our representatives have made or will make forward-looking
statements orally or in writing. Furthermore, such forward-looking statements may be included in various filings that we make
with the SEC, or press releases or oral statements made by or with the approval of one of our authorized executive officers. These
forward-looking statements are subject to certain known and unknown risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in these forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause actual
results to differ include, but are not limited to, those set forth under Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” and Item 7, “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation,” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K
and in our future filings made with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements
contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any related issuer free writing prospectus, which reflect management’s
opinions only as of their respective dates. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to revise or publicly release
the results of any revisions to any forward-looking statements. You are advised, however, to consult any additional disclosures
we have made or will make in our reports to the SEC on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking
statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements
contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any related issuer free writing prospectus.
USE
OF PROCEEDS
Unless
otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the net proceeds from the sale of securities offered by this prospectus will
be used for general corporate purposes and working capital requirements, which may include, among other things, the repayment
or repurchase of debt obligations and other capital expenditures. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds for licensing
or acquiring intellectual property or technologies to incorporate into our products and product candidates or our research and
development programs, capital expenditures, to fund possible investments in and acquisitions of complementary businesses or partnerships.
We have not determined the amounts we plan to spend on the areas listed above or the timing of these expenditures, and we have
no current plans with respect to acquisitions as of the date of this prospectus. As a result, unless otherwise indicated in the
prospectus supplement, our management will have broad discretion to allocate the net proceeds of the offerings. Pending their
ultimate use, we intend to invest the net proceeds in a variety of securities, including commercial paper, government and non-government
debt securities and/or money market funds that invest in such securities.
DIVIDEND
POLICY
Other
than our special nondividend distributions in December 2012 and December 2010, we have not paid cash dividends on our common stock.
We do not anticipate paying periodic cash dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future. We intend to use all available
cash and liquid assets in the operation and growth of our business. Any future determination about the payment of dividends will
be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon our earnings, if any, capital requirements, operating
and financial conditions and on such other factors as our board of directors deems relevant.
DESCRIPTION
OF CAPITAL STOCK
General
As
of the date of this prospectus, our authorized capital stock consists of 130,000,000 shares. Those shares consist of 120,000,000
shares designated as common stock, $0.001 par value, and 10,000,000 shares designated as preferred stock, $0.001 par value. The
only equity securities currently outstanding are shares of common stock. As of September 30, 2020, there were 25,578,673 shares
of common stock issued and outstanding.
The
following is a summary of the material provisions of the common stock and preferred stock provided for in our amended and restated
certificate of incorporation (including the certificate of designation relating to the Series A Preferred) and bylaws. For additional
detail about our capital stock, please refer to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (including the certificate
of designation relating to the Series A Preferred), and bylaws, each as amended, copies of which are incorporated by reference
into the registration statement to which this prospectus relates.
Common
stock
The
holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by the stockholders. Subject to preferences
that may be applicable to any outstanding preferred stock, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably any dividends
that may be declared from time to time by the board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose. However, we
are not currently paying any dividends. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of common stock
are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities, subject to prior distribution rights of preferred
stock then outstanding. The common stock has no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights. There are no redemption
or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. The outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable,
and any shares of common stock to be issued upon an offering pursuant to this prospectus and the related prospectus supplement
will be fully paid and nonassessable upon issuance.
Our
common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SAVA.” The transfer agent and registrar for
the common stock is Computershare Shareowner Services LLC. Its address is 330 N Brand Boulevard, Suite 701, Glendale, California,
91203-2389.
Preferred
stock
The
following description of preferred stock and the description of the terms of any particular series of preferred stock that we
choose to issue hereunder and that will be set forth in the related prospectus supplement are not complete. These descriptions
are qualified in their entirety by reference to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the certificate of designation
relating to that series. The rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of the preferred stock of each series will be fixed
by the certificate of designation relating to that series. The prospectus supplement also will contain a description of certain
U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to the purchase and ownership of the series of preferred stock that is described
in the prospectus supplement.
We
currently have no shares of preferred stock outstanding. Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by the
stockholders, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges
and restrictions granted to or imposed upon the preferred stock. Any or all of these rights may be greater than the rights of
the common stock.
The
board of directors, without stockholder approval, can issue preferred stock with voting, conversion or other rights that could
negatively affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of common stock. Preferred stock could thus be issued quickly
with terms calculated to delay or prevent a change in control of us or make it more difficult to remove our management. Additionally,
the issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of decreasing the market price of the common stock.
The
prospectus supplement for a series of preferred stock will specify:
|
● |
the
maximum number of shares; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
designation of the shares; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
annual dividend rate, if any, whether the dividend rate is fixed or variable, the date
or dates on which dividends will accrue, the dividend payment dates, and whether dividends
will be cumulative; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
price and the terms and conditions for redemption, if any, including redemption at our
option or at the option of the holders, including the time period for redemption, and
any accumulated dividends or premiums; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
liquidation preference, if any, and any accumulated dividends upon the liquidation, dissolution
or winding up of our affairs; |
|
|
|
|
● |
any
sinking fund or similar provision, and, if so, the terms and provisions relating to the
purpose and operation of the fund; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
terms and conditions, if any, for conversion or exchange of shares of any other class
or classes of our capital stock or any series of any other class or classes, or of any
other series of the same class, or any other securities or assets, including the price
or the rate of conversion or exchange and the method, if any, of adjustment; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
voting rights; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
any
or all other preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights,
privileges or qualifications, limitations or restrictions. |
Preferred
stock will be fully paid and nonassessable upon issuance.
Anti-takeover
effects of some provisions of Delaware law
Provisions
of Delaware law and our currently in effect amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended bylaws could make the
acquisition of our company through a tender offer, a proxy contest or other means more difficult and could make the removal of
incumbent officers and directors more difficult. We expect these provisions to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate
takeover bids and to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of our company to first negotiate with our board of directors.
We believe that the benefits provided by our ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal
outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging these proposals. We believe the negotiation of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal
could result in an improvement of its terms.
We
are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, an anti-takeover law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a
publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder”
for a period of three years following the date the person became an interested stockholder, unless:
|
● |
Prior
to the date of the transaction, the board of directors of the corporation approved either
the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming
an interested stockholder; |
|
|
|
|
● |
The
stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at
the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number
of shares outstanding (a) shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers,
and (b) shares owned by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have
the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be
tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or |
|
|
|
|
● |
On
or subsequent to the date of the transaction, the business combination is approved by the board and authorized at an annual
or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding
voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
Generally,
a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit
to the interested stockholder. An “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates,
owns or, within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status, did own 15% or more of a corporation’s
outstanding voting securities. We expect the existence of this provision to have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions
our board of directors does not approve in advance. We also anticipate that Section 203 may also discourage attempts that might
result in a premium over the market price for the shares of common stock held by stockholders.
Anti-takeover
effects of provisions of our charter documents
Our
amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides for our board of directors to be divided into three classes serving
staggered terms. Approximately one-third of the board of directors will be elected each year. The provision for a classified board
could prevent a party who acquires control of a majority of the outstanding voting stock from obtaining control of the board of
directors until the second annual stockholders meeting following the date the acquirer obtains the controlling stock interest.
The classified board provision could discourage a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain
control of our company and could increase the likelihood that incumbent directors will retain their positions. Our amended and
restated certificate of incorporation provides that directors may be removed with cause by the affirmative vote of the holders
of the outstanding shares of common stock.
Our
amended and restated certificate of incorporation requires that certain amendments of the amended and restated certificate of
incorporation and certain amendments by the stockholders of our bylaws require the approval of at least 66 2/3% of the voting
power of all outstanding stock. These provisions could discourage a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise
attempting to obtain control of our company and could delay changes in our management.
Our
amended bylaws establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of our stockholders,
including proposed nominations of persons for election to the board of directors. At an annual meeting, stockholders may only
consider proposals or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the
board of directors. Stockholders may also consider a proposal or nomination by a person who was a stockholder of record on the
record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has given to our Secretary timely written notice,
in proper form, of his or her intention to bring that business before the meeting. The amended bylaws do not give the board of
directors the power to approve or disapprove stockholder nominations of candidates or proposals regarding other business to be
conducted at a special or annual meeting of the stockholders. However, our bylaws may have the effect of precluding the conduct
of business at a meeting if the proper procedures are not followed. These provisions may also discourage or deter a potential
acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting
to obtain control of our company.
Our
amended bylaws provide that only our board of directors, the chairman of the board, the president or the chief executive officer
may call a special meeting of stockholders. Because our stockholders do not have the right to call a special meeting, a stockholder
could not force stockholder consideration of a proposal over the opposition of the board of directors by calling a special meeting
of stockholders prior to such time as a majority of the board of directors believed or the chief executive officer believed the
matter should be considered or until the next annual meeting provided that the requestor met the notice requirements. The restriction
on the ability of stockholders to call a special meeting means that a proposal to replace the board also could be delayed until
the next annual meeting.
Our
amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not allow stockholders to act by written consent without a meeting. Without
the availability of stockholder’s actions by written consent, a holder controlling a majority of our capital stock would
not be able to amend our bylaws or remove directors without holding a stockholders’ meeting. The holder would have to obtain
the consent of a majority of the board of directors, the chairman of the board or the chief executive officer to call a stockholders’
meeting and satisfy the notice periods determined by the board of directors.
DESCRIPTION
OF THE DEPOSITARY SHARES
General
At
our option, we may elect to offer fractional shares of preferred stock, rather than full shares of preferred stock. If we do elect
to offer fractional shares of preferred stock, we will issue receipts for depositary shares and each of these depositary shares
will represent a fraction of a share of a particular series of preferred stock, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Each owner of a depositary share will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fractional interest in shares of preferred
stock underlying that depositary share, to all rights and preferences of the preferred stock underlying that depositary share.
These rights may include dividend, voting, redemption and liquidation rights.
The
shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares will be deposited with a bank or trust company selected by us to act
as depositary, under a deposit agreement by and among us, the depositary and the holders of the depositary receipts. The depositary
will be the transfer agent, registrar and dividend disbursing agent for the depositary shares.
The
depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the depositary agreement. Holders of depositary
receipts agree to be bound by the deposit agreement, which requires holders to take certain actions such as filing proof of residence
and paying certain charges.
The
summary of terms of the depositary shares contained in this prospectus is not complete, and is subject to modification in any
prospectus supplement for any issuance of depositary shares. You should refer to the forms of the deposit agreement, our amended
and restated certificate of incorporation and the certificate of designation that are, or will be, filed with the SEC for the
applicable series of preferred stock.
Dividends
The
depositary will distribute cash dividends or other cash distributions, if any, received in respect of the series of preferred
stock underlying the depositary shares to the record holders of depositary receipts in proportion to the number of depositary
shares owned by those holders on the relevant record date. The relevant record date for depositary shares will be the same date
as the record date for the preferred stock.
In
the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of
depositary receipts that are entitled to receive the distribution, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to
make the distribution. If this occurs, the depositary, with our approval, may adopt another method for the distribution, including
selling the property and distributing the net proceeds to the holders.
Liquidation
preference
If
a series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares has a liquidation preference, in the event of our voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of depositary shares will be entitled to receive the fraction of the liquidation
preference accorded each share of the applicable series of preferred stock, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Redemption
If
a series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares is subject to redemption, the depositary shares will be redeemed
from the proceeds received by the depositary resulting from the redemption, in whole or in part, of the preferred stock held by
the depositary. Whenever we redeem any preferred stock held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem, as of the same redemption
date, the number of depositary shares representing the preferred stock so redeemed. The depositary will mail the notice of redemption
to the record holders of the depositary receipts promptly upon receiving the notice from us and not fewer than 20 or more than
60 days, unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, prior to the date fixed for redemption of the preferred
stock.
Voting
Upon
receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the information
contained in the notice of meeting to the record holders of the depositary receipts underlying the preferred stock. Each record
holder of those depositary receipts on the record date will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting
rights pertaining to the amount of preferred stock underlying that holder’s depositary shares. The record date for the depositary
will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock. The depositary will, to the extent practicable, vote the preferred
stock underlying the depositary shares in accordance with these instructions. We will agree to take all action that may be deemed
necessary by the depositary in order to enable the depositary to vote the preferred stock in accordance with these instructions.
The depositary will not vote the preferred stock to the extent that it does not receive specific instructions from the holders
of depositary receipts.
Withdrawal
of preferred stock
Owners
of depositary shares will be entitled to receive upon surrender of depositary receipts at the principal office of the depositary
and payment of any unpaid amount due to the depositary, the number of whole shares of preferred stock underlying their depositary
shares.
Partial
shares of preferred stock will not be issued. Holders of preferred stock will not be entitled to deposit the shares under the
deposit agreement or to receive depositary receipts evidencing depositary shares for the preferred stock.
Amendment
and termination of the deposit agreement
The
form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the deposit agreement may be amended by agreement
between the depositary and us. However, any amendment which materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of depositary
shares, other than fee changes, will not be effective unless the amendment has been approved by at least a majority of the outstanding
depositary shares. The deposit agreement may be terminated by the depositary or us only if:
|
● |
all
outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed; or |
|
|
|
|
● |
there
has been a final distribution of the preferred stock in connection with our dissolution
and such distribution has been made to all the holders of depositary shares. |
Charges
of depositary
We
will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangement.
We will also pay charges of the depositary in connection with:
|
● |
the
initial deposit of the preferred stock; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
initial issuance of the depositary shares; |
|
|
|
|
● |
any
redemption of the preferred stock; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
all
withdrawals of preferred stock by owners of depositary shares. |
Holders
of depositary receipts will pay transfer, income and other taxes and governmental charges and other specified charges as provided
in the deposit agreement for their accounts. If these charges have not been paid, the depositary may:
|
● |
refuse
to transfer depositary shares; |
|
|
|
|
● |
withhold
dividends and distributions; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
sell
the depositary shares evidenced by the depositary receipt. |
Miscellaneous
The
depositary will forward to the holders of depositary receipts all reports and communications we deliver to the depositary that
we are required to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock. In addition, the depositary will make available for inspection
by holders of depositary receipts at the principal office of the depositary, and at such other places as it may from time to time
deem advisable, any reports and communications we deliver to the depositary as the holder of preferred stock.
Neither
the depositary nor we will be liable if either the depositary or we are prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond
the control of either the depositary or us in performing our respective obligations under the deposit agreement. Our obligations
and the depositary’s obligations will be limited to the performance in good faith of our or the depositary’s respective
duties under the deposit agreement. Neither the depositary nor we will be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding
in respect of any depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. The depositary and we may rely
on:
|
● |
written
advice of counsel or accountants; |
|
|
|
|
● |
information
provided by holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed in good faith to
be competent to give such information; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
documents
believed to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties. |
Resignation
and removal of depositary
The
depositary may resign at any time by delivering a notice to us. We may remove the depositary at any time. Any such resignation
or removal will take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment. The successor
depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice for resignation or removal. The successor depositary
must be a bank and trust company having its principal office in the United States of America and having a combined capital and
surplus of at least $50,000,000.
Federal
income tax consequences
Owners
of the depositary shares will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as if they were owners of the preferred stock underlying
the depositary shares. As a result, owners will be entitled to take into account for U.S. federal income tax purposes and deductions
to which they would be entitled if they were holders of such preferred stock. No gain or loss will be recognized for U.S. federal
income tax purposes upon the withdrawal of preferred stock in exchange for depositary shares. The tax basis of each share of preferred
stock to an exchanging owner of depositary shares will, upon such exchange, be the same as the aggregate tax basis of the depositary
shares exchanged. The holding period for preferred stock in the hands of an exchanging owner of depositary shares will include
the period during which such person owned such depositary shares.
DESCRIPTION
OF THE WARRANTS
General
We
may issue warrants for the purchase of our debt securities, preferred stock or common stock, or any combination thereof. Warrants
may be issued independently or together with our debt securities, preferred stock or common stock and may be attached to or separate
from any offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between
us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants.
The warrant agent will not have any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners
of warrants. This summary of certain provisions of the warrants is not complete. For the terms of a particular series of warrants,
you should refer to the prospectus supplement for that series of warrants and the warrant agreement for that particular series.
Debt
warrants
The
prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants to purchase debt securities will describe the terms of the debt
warrants, including the following:
|
● |
the
title of the debt warrants; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
offering price for the debt warrants, if any; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
aggregate number of the debt warrants; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
designation and terms of the debt securities, including any conversion rights, purchasable
upon exercise of the debt warrants; |
|
|
|
|
● |
if
applicable, the date from and after which the debt warrants and any debt securities issued
with them will be separately transferable; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
principal amount of debt securities that may be purchased upon exercise of a debt warrant
and the exercise price for the warrants, which may be payable in cash, securities or
other property; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
dates on which the right to exercise the debt warrants will commence and expire; |
|
|
|
|
● |
if
applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the debt warrants that may be exercised
at any one time; |
|
|
|
|
● |
whether
the debt warrants represented by the debt warrant certificates or debt securities that may be issued upon exercise of the
debt warrants will be issued in registered or bearer form; |
|
|
|
|
● |
information
with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; the currency or currency units in which
the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable; |
|
|
|
|
● |
if
applicable, a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
antidilution provisions of the debt warrants, if any; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the debt warrants; |
|
|
|
|
● |
any
provisions with respect to the holder’s right to require us to repurchase the warrants
upon a change in control or similar event; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
any
additional terms of the debt warrants, including procedures, and limitations relating
to the exchange, exercise and settlement of the debt warrants. |
Debt
warrant certificates will be exchangeable for new debt warrant certificates of different denominations. Debt warrants may be exercised
at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement. Prior to the exercise
of their debt warrants, holders of debt warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the debt securities purchasable
upon exercise and will not be entitled to payment of principal or any premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities purchasable
upon exercise.
Equity
warrants
The
prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of warrants to purchase our common stock or preferred stock, including preferred
stock underlying depositary shares, will describe the terms of the warrants, including the following:
|
● |
the
title of the warrants; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
offering price for the warrants, if any; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
aggregate number of warrants; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
designation and terms of the common stock or preferred stock that may be purchased upon
exercise of the warrants; |
|
|
|
|
● |
if
applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued
and the number of warrants issued with each security; |
|
|
|
|
● |
if
applicable, the date from and after which the warrants and any securities issued with
the warrants will be separately transferable; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
number of shares of common stock or preferred stock that may be purchased upon exercise
of a warrant and the exercise price for the warrants; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
dates on which the right to exercise the warrants shall commence and expire; |
|
|
|
|
● |
if
applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any
one time; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price
are payable; |
|
|
|
|
● |
if
applicable, a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
antidilution provisions of the warrants, if any; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the warrants; |
|
|
|
|
● |
any
provisions with respect to the holder’s right to require us to repurchase the warrants
upon a change in control or similar event; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
any
additional terms of the warrants, including procedures, and limitations relating to the
exchange, exercise and settlement of the warrants. |
Holders
of equity warrants will not be entitled:
|
● |
to
vote, consent or receive dividends; |
|
|
|
|
● |
receive
notice as stockholders with respect to any meeting of stockholders for the election of
our directors or any other matter; or |
|
|
|
|
● |
exercise
any rights as stockholders of us. |
DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS
We
may issue rights to purchase our debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or other securities. These rights may be issued
independently or together with any other security offered hereby and may or may not be transferable by the stockholder receiving
the rights in such offering. In connection with any offering of such rights, we may enter into a standby arrangement with one
or more underwriters or other purchasers pursuant to which the underwriters or other purchasers may be required to purchase any
securities remaining unsubscribed for after such offering.
Each
series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agreement which we will enter into with a bank or trust company, as rights
agent, all which will be set forth in the relevant offering material. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection
with the certificates relating to the rights and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holders
of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights.
The
following description is a summary of selected provisions relating to rights that we may offer. The summary is not complete. When
rights are offered in the future, a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or a free writing prospectus,
as applicable, will explain the particular terms of those securities and the extent to which these general provisions may apply.
The specific terms of the rights as described in a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing
prospectus will supplement and, if applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in this section.
This
summary and any description of rights in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing
prospectus is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the rights agreement and the rights certificates. We
will file each of these documents, as applicable, with the SEC and incorporate them by reference as an exhibit to the registration
statement of which this prospectus is a part on or before the time we issue a series of rights. See “Where You Can Find
More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” below for information on how to obtain
a copy of a document when it is filed.
The
applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus may describe:
|
|
in the case of a distribution of rights
to our stockholders, the date of determining the stockholders entitled to the rights distribution; |
|
|
|
|
|
in the case of a distribution of rights
to our stockholders, the number of rights issued or to be issued to each stockholder; |
|
|
|
|
|
the exercise price payable for the underlying
debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or other securities upon the exercise of the rights; |
|
|
|
|
|
the number and terms of the underlying
debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or other securities which may be purchased per each right; |
|
|
|
|
|
the extent to which the rights are transferable; |
|
|
|
|
|
the date on which the holder’s
ability to exercise the rights shall commence, and the date on which the rights shall expire; |
|
|
|
|
|
the extent to which the rights may include
an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities; |
|
|
|
|
|
if applicable, the material terms of
any standby underwriting or purchase arrangement entered into by us in connection with the offering of such rights; and |
|
|
|
|
|
any other terms of the rights, including,
but not limited to, the terms, procedures, conditions and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the rights. |
The
provisions described in this section, as well as those described under “Description of Debt Securities” and “Description
of Capital Stock” above, will apply, as applicable, to any rights we offer.
DESCRIPTION
OF THE DEBT SECURITIES
The
debt securities may be either secured or unsecured and will either be our senior debt securities or our subordinated debt securities.
The debt securities will be issued under one or more separate indentures between us and a trustee to be specified in an accompanying
prospectus supplement. Senior debt securities will be issued under a senior indenture and subordinated debt securities will be
issued under a subordinated indenture. Together, the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are called indentures in
this description. This prospectus, together with the applicable prospectus supplement, will describe the terms of a particular
series of debt securities.
The
following is a summary of selected provisions and definitions of the indentures and debt securities to which any prospectus supplement
may relate. The summary of selected provisions of the indentures and the debt securities appearing below is not complete and is
subject to, and qualified entirely by reference to, all of the provisions of the applicable indenture and certificates evidencing
the applicable debt securities. For additional information, you should look at the applicable indenture and the certificate evidencing
the applicable debt security that is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement that includes the prospectus. In this description
of the debt securities, the words “Cassava Sciences,” “we,” “us,” or “our” refer
only to Cassava Sciences, Inc. and not to any of our subsidiaries, unless we expressly state or the context otherwise requires.
The
following description sets forth selected general terms and provisions of the applicable indenture and debt securities to which
any prospectus supplement may relate. Other specific terms of the applicable indenture and debt securities will be described in
the applicable prospectus supplement. If any particular terms of the indenture or debt securities described in a prospectus supplement
differ from any of the terms described below, then the terms described below will be deemed to have been superseded by that prospectus
supplement.
General
Debt
securities may be issued in separate series without limitation as to aggregate principal amount. We may specify a maximum aggregate
principal amount for the debt securities of any series.
We
are not limited as to the amount of debt securities we may issue under the indentures. Unless otherwise provided in a prospectus
supplement, a series of debt securities may be reopened to issue additional debt securities of such series.
The
prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of debt securities will set forth:
|
● |
whether
the debt securities are senior or subordinated; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
offering price; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
title; |
|
|
|
|
● |
any
limit on the aggregate principal amount; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
person who shall be entitled to receive interest, if other than the record holder on
the record date; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
date or dates the principal will be payable; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
interest rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, if any, the date from which interest
will accrue, the interest payment dates and the regular record dates, or the method for
calculating the dates and rates; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
place where payments may be made; |
|
|
|
|
● |
any
mandatory or optional redemption provisions or sinking fund provisions and any applicable
redemption or purchase prices associated with these provisions; |
|
● |
if
issued other than in denominations of U.S. $1,000 or any multiple of U.S. $1,000, the
denominations in which the debt securities shall be issuable; |
|
|
|
|
● |
if
applicable, the method for determining how the principal, premium, if any, or interest
will be calculated by reference to an index or formula; |
|
|
|
|
● |
if
other than U.S. currency, the currency or currency units in which principal, premium,
if any, or interest will be payable and whether we or a holder may elect payment to be
made in a different currency; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
portion of the principal amount that will be payable upon acceleration of maturity, if
other than the entire principal amount; |
|
|
|
|
● |
if
the principal amount payable at stated maturity will not be determinable as of any date
prior to stated maturity, the amount or method for determining the amount which will
be deemed to be the principal amount; |
|
|
|
|
● |
if
applicable, whether the debt securities shall be subject to the defeasance provisions
described below under “Satisfaction and discharge; defeasance” or such other
defeasance provisions specified in the applicable prospectus supplement for the debt
securities; |
|
|
|
|
● |
any
conversion or exchange provisions; |
|
|
|
|
● |
whether
the debt securities will be issuable in the form of a global security; |
|
|
|
|
● |
any
subordination provisions applicable to the subordinated debt securities if different
from those described below under “Subordinated debt securities;” |
|
|
|
|
● |
any
paying agents, authenticating agents, security registrars or other agents for the debt
securities, if other than the trustee; |
|
|
|
|
● |
any
provisions relating to any security provided for the debt securities, including any provisions
regarding the circumstances under which collateral may be released or substituted; |
|
|
|
|
● |
any
deletions of, or changes or additions to, the events of default, acceleration provisions
or covenants; |
|
|
|
|
● |
any
provisions relating to guaranties for the securities and any circumstances under which
there may be additional obligors; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
any
other specific terms of such debt securities. |
Unless
otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be registered debt securities. Debt securities may
be sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate which, at the
time of issuance, is below market rates. The U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities sold at a discount
will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Exchange
and transfer
Debt
securities may be transferred or exchanged at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated
by us.
We
will not impose a service charge for any transfer or exchange, but we may require holders to pay any tax or other governmental
charges associated with any transfer or exchange.
In
the event of any partial redemption of debt securities of any series, we will not be required to:
|
● |
issue,
register the transfer of, or exchange, any debt security of that series during a period
beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of
redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing; or |
|
|
|
|
● |
register
the transfer of or exchange any debt security of that series selected for redemption,
in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion being redeemed in part. |
We
will appoint the trustee as the initial security registrar. Any transfer agent, in addition to the security registrar initially
designated by us, will be named in the prospectus supplement. We may designate additional transfer agents or change transfer agents
or change the office of the transfer agent. However, we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment
for the debt securities of each series.
Global
securities
The
debt securities of any series may be represented, in whole or in part, by one or more global securities. Each global security
will:
|
● |
be
registered in the name of a depositary, or its nominee, that we will identify in a prospectus
supplement; |
|
|
|
|
● |
be
deposited with the depositary or nominee or custodian; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
bear
any required legends. |
No
global security may be exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities registered in the name of any person other than the depositary
or any nominee unless:
|
● |
the
depositary has notified us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or
has ceased to be qualified to act as depositary; |
|
|
|
|
● |
an
event of default is continuing with respect to the debt securities of the applicable
series; or |
|
|
|
|
● |
any
other circumstance described in a prospectus supplement has occurred permitting or requiring
the issuance of any such security. |
As
long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a global security, the depositary or nominee will be considered
the sole owner and holder of the debt securities represented by the global security for all purposes under the indentures. Except
in the above limited circumstances, owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not be:
|
● |
entitled
to have the debt securities registered in their names; |
|
|
|
|
● |
entitled
to physical delivery of certificated debt securities; or |
|
|
|
|
● |
considered
to be holders of those debt securities under the indenture. |
Payments
on a global security will be made to the depositary or its nominee as the holder of the global security. Some jurisdictions have
laws that require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. These laws
may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global security.
Institutions
that have accounts with the depositary or its nominee are referred to as “participants.” Ownership of beneficial interests
in a global security will be limited to participants and to persons that may hold beneficial interests through participants. The
depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of debt securities
represented by the global security to the accounts of its participants.
Ownership
of beneficial interests in a global security will be shown on and effected through records maintained by the depositary, with
respect to participants’ interests, or any participant, with respect to interests of persons held by participants on their
behalf.
Payments,
transfers and exchanges relating to beneficial interests in a global security will be subject to policies and procedures of the
depositary. The depositary policies and procedures may change from time to time. Neither any trustee nor we will have any responsibility
or liability for the depositary’s or any participant’s records with respect to beneficial interests in a global security.
Payment
and paying agents
Unless
otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, the provisions described in this paragraph will apply to the debt securities.
Payment of interest on a debt security on any interest payment date will be made to the person in whose name the debt security
is registered at the close of business on the regular record date. Payment on debt securities of a particular series will be payable
at the office of a paying agent or paying agents designated by us. However, at our option, we may pay interest by mailing a check
to the record holder. The trustee will be designated as our initial paying agent.
We
may also name any other paying agents in a prospectus supplement. We may designate additional paying agents, change paying agents
or change the office of any paying agent. However, we will be required to maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for
the debt securities of a particular series.
All
moneys paid by us to a paying agent for payment on any debt security that remain unclaimed for a period ending the earlier of:
|
● |
10
business days prior to the date the money would be turned over to the applicable state; or |
|
|
|
|
● |
at
the end of two years after such payment was due, |
will
be repaid to us thereafter. The holder may look only to us for such payment.
No
protection in the event of a change of control
Unless
otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement with respect to a particular series of debt securities, the debt securities will
not contain any provisions that may afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event we have a change in control
or in the event of a highly leveraged transaction, whether or not such transaction results in a change in control.
Covenants
Unless
otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement with respect to a particular series of debt securities, the debt securities will
not contain any financial or restrictive covenants.
Consolidation,
merger and sale of assets
Unless
we indicate otherwise in a prospectus supplement with respect to a particular series of debt securities, we may not consolidate
with or merge into any other person (other than a subsidiary of us), in a transaction in which we are not the surviving corporation,
or convey, transfer or lease our properties and assets substantially as an entirety to, any person (other than a subsidiary of
us), unless:
|
● |
the
successor entity, if any, is a U.S. corporation, limited liability company, partnership,
trust or other business entity; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
successor entity assumes our obligations on the debt securities and under the indentures; |
|
|
|
|
● |
immediately
after giving effect to the transaction, no default or event of default shall have occurred
and be continuing; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
certain
other conditions specified in the indenture are met. |
Events
of default
Unless
we indicate otherwise in a prospectus supplement, the following will be events of default for any series of debt securities under
the indentures:
| (1) | we
fail to pay principal of or any premium on any debt security of that series when due; |
| (2) | we
fail to pay any interest on any debt security of that series for 60 days after it becomes
due; |
| (3) | we
fail to deposit any sinking fund payment when due; |
| (4) | we
fail to perform any other covenant in the indenture and such failure continues for 90
days after we are given the notice required in the indentures; and |
| (5) | certain
events involving our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization. |
Additional
or different events of default applicable to a series of debt securities may be described in a prospectus supplement. An event
of default of one series of debt securities is not necessarily an event of default for any other series of debt securities.
The
trustee may withhold notice to the holders of any default, except defaults in the payment of principal, premium, if any, interest,
any sinking fund installment on, or with respect to any conversion right of, the debt securities of such series. However, the
trustee must consider it to be in the interest of the holders of the debt securities of such series to withhold this notice.
Unless
we indicate otherwise in a prospectus supplement, if an event of default, other than an event of default described in clause (5)
above, shall occur and be continuing with respect to any series of debt securities, either the trustee or the holders of at least
a 25 percent in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities of that series may declare the principal amount and premium,
if any, of the debt securities of that series, or if any debt securities of that series are original issue discount securities,
such other amount as may be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, in each case together with accrued and unpaid interest,
if any, thereon, to be due and payable immediately.
Unless
we indicate otherwise in a prospectus supplement, if an event of default described in clause (5) above shall occur, the principal
amount and premium, if any, of all the debt securities of that series, or if any debt securities of that series are original issue
discount securities, such other amount as may be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, in each case together with
accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, will automatically become immediately due and payable. Any payment by us on the
subordinated debt securities following any such acceleration will be subject to the subordination provisions described below under
“Subordinated debt securities.”
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, each indenture will provide that we may, at our option, elect that the sole remedy for an event of default relating
to our failure to comply with our obligations described under the section entitled “Reports” below or our failure
to comply with the requirements of Section 314(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act will for the first 180 days after the occurrence
of such an event of default consist exclusively of the right to receive additional interest on the relevant series of debt securities
at an annual rate equal to (i) 0.25% of the principal amount of such series of debt securities for the first 90 days after the
occurrence of such event of default and (ii) 0.50% of the principal amount of such series of debt securities from the 91st day
to, and including, the 180th day after the occurrence of such event of default, which we call “additional interest.”
If we so elect, the additional interest will accrue on all outstanding debt securities from and including the date on which such
event of default first occurs until such violation is cured or waived and shall be payable on each relevant interest payment date
to holders of record on the regular record date immediately preceding the interest payment date. On the 181st day after such event
of default (if such violation is not cured or waived prior to such 181st day), the debt securities will be subject to acceleration
as provided above. In the event we do not elect to pay additional interest upon any such event of default in accordance with this
paragraph, the debt securities will be subject to acceleration as provided above.
In
order to elect to pay the additional interest as the sole remedy during the first 180 days after the occurrence of any event of
default relating to the failure to comply with the reporting obligations in accordance with the preceding paragraph, we must notify
all holders of debt securities and the trustee and paying agent of such election prior to the close of business on the first business
day following the date on which such event of default occurs. Upon our failure to timely give such notice or pay the additional
interest, the debt securities will be immediately subject to acceleration as provided above.
After
acceleration, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities of that series may, under
certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration if all events of default, other than the non-payment of accelerated
principal, or other specified amounts or interest, have been cured or waived.
Other
than the duty to act with the required care during an event of default, the trustee will not be obligated to exercise any of its
rights or powers at the request of the holders unless the holders shall have offered to the trustee reasonable indemnity. Generally,
the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to
direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust
or power conferred on the trustee.
A
holder of debt securities of any series will not have any right to institute any proceeding under the indentures, or for the appointment
of a receiver or a trustee, or for any other remedy under the indentures, unless:
|
(1) |
the
holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default with respect to the debt securities
of that series; |
|
(2) |
the
holders of at least 25 percent in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made a
written request and have offered reasonable indemnity to the trustee to institute the proceeding; and |
|
(3) |
the
trustee has failed to institute the proceeding and has not received direction inconsistent with the original request from
the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series within 60 days after
the original request. |
Holders
may, however, sue to enforce the payment of principal, premium or interest on any debt security on or after the due date or to
enforce the right, if any, to convert any debt security (if the debt security is convertible) without following the procedures
listed in (1) through (3) above.
We
will furnish the trustee an annual statement from our officers as to whether or not we are in default in the performance of the
conditions and covenants under the indenture and, if so, specifying all known defaults.
Modification
and waiver
Unless
we indicate otherwise in a prospectus supplement, the applicable trustee and we may make modifications and amendments to an indenture
with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities of each series affected
by the modification or amendment.
We
may also make modifications and amendments to the indentures for the benefit of holders without their consent, for certain purposes
including, but not limited to:
|
● |
providing
for our successor to assume the covenants under the indenture; |
|
|
|
|
● |
adding
covenants or events of default; |
|
|
|
|
● |
making
certain changes to facilitate the issuance of the securities; |
|
● |
securing
the securities; |
|
|
|
|
● |
providing
for a successor trustee or additional trustees; |
|
|
|
|
● |
curing
any ambiguities or inconsistencies; |
|
|
|
|
● |
providing
for guaranties of, or additional obligors on, the securities; |
|
|
|
|
● |
permitting
or facilitating the defeasance and discharge of the securities; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
other
changes specified in the indenture. |
However,
neither the trustee nor we may make any modification or amendment without the consent of the holder of each outstanding security
of that series affected by the modification or amendment if such modification or amendment would:
|
● |
change
the stated maturity of any debt security; |
|
|
|
|
● |
reduce
the principal, premium, if any, or interest on any debt security or any amount payable
upon redemption or repurchase, whether at our option or the option of any holder, or
reduce the amount of any sinking fund payments; |
|
|
|
|
● |
reduce
the principal of an original issue discount security or any other debt security payable
on acceleration of maturity; |
|
|
|
|
● |
change
the place of payment or the currency in which any debt security is payable; |
|
|
|
|
● |
impair
the right to enforce any payment after the stated maturity or redemption date; |
|
|
|
|
● |
if
subordinated debt securities, modify the subordination provisions in a materially adverse
manner to the holders; |
|
|
|
|
● |
adversely
affect the right to convert any debt security if the debt security is a convertible debt
security; or |
|
|
|
|
● |
change
the provisions in the indenture that relate to modifying or amending the indenture. |
Satisfaction
and discharge; defeasance
We
may be discharged from our obligations on the debt securities, subject to limited exceptions, of any series that have matured
or will mature or be redeemed within one year if we deposit enough money with the trustee to pay all the principal, interest and
any premium due to the stated maturity date or redemption date of the debt securities.
Each
indenture contains a provision that permits us to elect either or both of the following:
|
● |
we
may elect to be discharged from all of our obligations, subject to limited exceptions,
with respect to any series of debt securities then outstanding. If we make this election,
the holders of the debt securities of the series will not be entitled to the benefits
of the indenture, except for the rights of holders to receive payments on debt securities
or the registration of transfer and exchange of debt securities and replacement of lost,
stolen or mutilated debt securities. |
|
|
|
|
● |
we
may elect to be released from our obligations under some or all of any financial or restrictive covenants applicable to the
series of debt securities to which the election relates and from the consequences of an event of default resulting from a
breach of those covenants. |
To
make either of the above elections, we must irrevocably deposit in trust with the trustee enough money to pay in full the principal,
interest and premium on the debt securities. This amount may be made in cash and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case
of debt securities denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars, cash in the currency in which such series of securities
is denominated and/or foreign government obligations. As a condition to either of the above elections, for debt securities denominated
in U.S. dollars we must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel that the holders of the debt securities will not recognize
income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the action.
With
respect to debt securities of any series that are denominated in a currency other than United States dollars, “foreign government
obligations” means:
|
● |
direct
obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued the currency in which
such securities are denominated and for the payment of which obligations its full faith
and credit is pledged, or, with respect to debt securities of any series which are denominated
in Euros, direct obligations of certain members of the European Union for the payment
of which obligations the full faith and credit of such members is pledged, which in each
case are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof; or |
|
|
|
|
● |
obligations
of a person controlled or supervised by or acting as an agency or instrumentality of
a government described in the bullet above the timely payment of which is unconditionally
guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by such government, which are not callable
or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof. |
Reports
The
indentures provide that any reports or documents that we file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act
will be filed with the trustee within 15 days after the same is filed with the SEC. Documents filed by us with the SEC via the
EDGAR system will be deemed filed with the trustee as of the time such documents are filed with the SEC.
Notices
Notices
to holders will be given by mail to the addresses of the holders in the security register.
Governing
law
The
indentures and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed under, the laws of the State of New York.
No
personal liability of directors, officers, employees and stockholders
No
incorporator, stockholder, employee, agent, officer, director or subsidiary of ours will have any liability for any obligations
of ours, or because of the creation of any indebtedness under the debt securities, the indentures or supplemental indentures.
The indentures provide that all such liability is expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for,
the execution of such indentures and the issuance of the debt securities.
Regarding
the trustee
The
indentures limit the right of the trustee, should it become our creditor, to obtain payment of claims or secure its claims.
The
trustee will be permitted to engage in certain other transactions with us. However, if the trustee acquires any conflicting interest,
and there is a default under the debt securities of any series for which it is trustee, the trustee must eliminate the conflict
or resign.
Subordinated
debt securities
The
following provisions will be applicable with respect to each series of subordinated debt securities, unless otherwise stated in
the prospectus supplement relating to that series of subordinated debt securities.
The
indebtedness evidenced by the subordinated debt securities of any series is subordinated, to the extent provided in the subordinated
indenture and the applicable prospectus supplement, to the prior payment in full, in cash or other payment satisfactory to the
holders of senior debt, of all senior debt, including any senior debt securities.
Upon
any distribution of our assets upon any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization, whether voluntary or involuntary,
marshalling of assets, assignment for the benefit of creditors, or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceedings,
payments on the subordinated debt securities will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full in cash or
other payment satisfactory to holders of senior debt of all senior debt.
In
the event of any acceleration of the subordinated debt securities of any series because of an event of default with respect to
the subordinated debt securities of that series, holders of any senior debt would be entitled to payment in full in cash or other
payment satisfactory to holders of senior debt of all senior debt before the holders of subordinated debt securities are entitled
to receive any payment or distribution.
In
addition, the subordinated debt securities will be structurally subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities of our
subsidiaries, including trade payables and lease obligations. This occurs because our right to receive any assets of our subsidiaries
upon their liquidation or reorganization, and your right to participate in those assets, will be effectively subordinated to the
claims of that subsidiary’s creditors, including trade creditors, except to the extent that we are recognized as a creditor
of such subsidiary. If we are recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary, our claims would still be subordinate to any security
interest in the assets of the subsidiary and any indebtedness of the subsidiary senior to us.
We
are required to promptly notify holders of senior debt or their representatives under the subordinated indenture if payment of
the subordinated debt securities is accelerated because of an event of default.
Under
the subordinated indenture, we may also not make payment on the subordinated debt securities if:
|
● |
a
default in our obligations to pay principal, premium, if any, interest or other amounts
on our senior debt occurs and the default continues beyond any applicable grace period,
which we refer to as a payment default; or |
|
|
|
|
● |
any
other default occurs and is continuing with respect to designated senior debt that permits
holders of designated senior debt to accelerate its maturity, which we refer to as a
non-payment default, and the trustee receives a payment blockage notice from us or some
other person permitted to give the notice under the subordinated indenture. |
We
will resume payments on the subordinated debt securities:
|
● |
in
case of a payment default, when the default is cured or waived or ceases to exist, and |
|
|
|
|
● |
in
case of a nonpayment default, the earlier of when the default is cured or waived or ceases to exist or 179 days after the
receipt of the payment blockage notice. |
No
new payment blockage period may commence on the basis of a nonpayment default unless 365 days have elapsed from the effectiveness
of the immediately prior payment blockage notice. No nonpayment default that existed or was continuing on the date of delivery
of any payment blockage notice to the trustee shall be the basis for a subsequent payment blockage notice.
As
a result of these subordination provisions, in the event of our bankruptcy, dissolution or reorganization, holders of senior debt
may receive more, ratably, and holders of the subordinated debt securities may receive less, ratably, than our other creditors.
The subordination provisions will not prevent the occurrence of any event of default under the subordinated indenture.
The
subordination provisions will not apply to payments from money or government obligations held in trust by the trustee for the
payment of principal, interest and premium, if any, on subordinated debt securities pursuant to the provisions described under
the section entitled “Satisfaction and discharge; defeasance,” if the subordination provisions were not violated at
the time the money or government obligations were deposited into trust.
If
the trustee or any holder receives any payment that should not have been made to them in contravention of subordination provisions
before all senior debt is paid in full in cash or other payment satisfactory to holders of senior debt, then such payment will
be held in trust for the holders of senior debt.
Senior
debt securities will constitute senior debt under the subordinated indenture.
Additional
or different subordination provisions may be described in a prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of debt securities.
Definitions
“Designated
senior debt” means our obligations under any particular senior debt in which the instrument creating or evidencing the same
or the assumption or guarantee thereof, or related agreements or documents to which we are a party, expressly provides that such
indebtedness shall be designated senior debt for purposes of the subordinated indenture. The instrument, agreement or other document
evidencing any designated senior debt may place limitations and conditions on the right of such senior debt to exercise the rights
of designated senior debt.
“Indebtedness”
means the following, whether absolute or contingent, secured or unsecured, due or to become due, outstanding on the date of the
indenture for such series of securities or thereafter created, incurred or assumed:
|
● |
our
indebtedness evidenced by a credit or loan agreement, note, bond, debenture or other
written obligation; |
|
|
|
|
● |
all
of our obligations for money borrowed; |
|
|
|
|
● |
all
of our obligations evidenced by a note or similar instrument given in connection with
the acquisition of any businesses, properties or assets of any kind, |
|
|
|
|
● |
our
obligations: |
|
● |
as
lessee under leases required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of the lessee under
generally accepted accounting principles, or |
|
|
|
|
● |
as
lessee under leases for facilities, capital equipment or related assets, whether or not
capitalized, entered into or leased for financing purposes; |
|
● |
all
of our obligations under interest rate and currency swaps, caps, floors, collars, hedge
agreements, forward contracts or similar agreements or arrangements; |
|
|
|
|
● |
all
of our obligations with respect to letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances and
similar facilities, including reimbursement obligations with respect to the foregoing; |
|
|
|
|
● |
all
of our obligations issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services,
but excluding trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary
course of business; |
|
|
|
|
● |
all
obligations of the type referred to in the above clauses of another person, the payment
of which, in either case, we have assumed or guaranteed, for which we are responsible
or liable, directly or indirectly, jointly or severally, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise,
or which are secured by a lien on our property; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
renewals,
extensions, modifications, replacements, restatements and refundings of, or any indebtedness
or obligation issued in exchange for, any such indebtedness or obligation described in
the above clauses of this definition. |
“Senior
debt” means the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, including all interest accruing subsequent to the commencement
of any bankruptcy or similar proceeding, whether or not a claim for post-petition interest is allowable as a claim in any such
proceeding, and rent payable on or in connection with, and all fees and other amounts payable in connection with, our indebtedness.
However, senior debt shall not include:
|
● |
any
debt or obligation if its terms or the terms of the instrument under which or pursuant
to which it is issued expressly provide that it shall not be senior in right of payment
to the subordinated debt securities or expressly provide that such indebtedness is on
the same basis or “junior” to the subordinated debt securities; or |
|
|
|
|
● |
debt
to any of our subsidiaries, a majority of the voting stock of which is owned, directly
or indirectly, by us. |
“Subsidiary”
means a corporation more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by us or by one or
more or our other subsidiaries or by a combination of us and our other subsidiaries. For purposes of this definition, “voting
stock” means stock or other similar interests which ordinarily has or have voting power for the election of directors, or
persons performing similar functions, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock or other interests has
or have such voting power by reason of any contingency.
DESCRIPTION
OF THE UNITS
General
At
our option, we may elect to issue units comprised of common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants, debt securities,
or any combination thereof. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included
in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement
under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at
any time or at any time before a specified date.
The
summary of terms of the units contained in this section of the prospectus is not complete, and is subject to modification in any
prospectus supplement for any issuance of Units. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series
of units, including:
|
● |
the
designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including
whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately; |
|
|
|
|
● |
Any
provisions of the governing unit agreement that differ from those described below;
and |
|
|
|
|
● |
Any
provisions for the issuance, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units. |
In
addition, the provisions described under “Description of Capital Stock,” “Description of the Depositary Shares,”
“Description of the Warrants” and “Description of the Debt Securities” will apply to each unit and to
any common stock, preferred stock, debt security or warrants included in each unit, respectively.
Issuance
in Series
We
may issue units in such amounts and in such numerous distinct series as we determine.
Enforceability
of Rights by Holders of Units
Any
unit agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable unit agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship
of agency or trust with any holder of any unit. A single bank or trust company may act as unit agent for more than one series
of units. A unit agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable unit agreement or
unit, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any
holder of a unit may, without the consent of the related unit agent or the holder of any other unit, enforce by appropriate legal
action its rights as holder under any security included in the unit.
Title
We,
any unit agents and any of their agents may treat the registered holder of any unit certificate as an absolute owner of the units
evidenced by that certificate for any purpose and as the person entitled to exercise the rights attaching to the units so requested,
despite any notice to the contrary.
Outstanding
Units
We
have no outstanding units.
PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION
We
may sell the securities offered through this prospectus (1) to or through underwriters or dealers, (2) directly to purchasers,
including our affiliates, (3) through agents, or (4) through a combination of any these methods. The securities may be distributed
at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, market prices prevailing at the time of sale, prices related to the prevailing
market prices, or negotiated prices. The prospectus supplement will include the following information:
|
● |
the
terms of the offering; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
names of any underwriters or agents; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
name or names of any managing underwriter or underwriters; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
purchase price of the securities; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
net proceeds from the sale of the securities; |
|
|
|
|
● |
any
delayed delivery arrangements; |
|
|
|
|
● |
any
underwriting discounts, commissions and other items constituting underwriters’
compensation; |
|
|
|
|
● |
any
initial public offering price; |
|
|
|
|
● |
any
discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
any
commissions paid to agents. |
Sale
through underwriters or dealers
If
underwriters are used in the sale, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account, including through underwriting,
purchase, security lending or repurchase agreements with us. The underwriters may resell the securities from time to time in one
or more transactions, including negotiated transactions. Underwriters may sell the securities in order to facilitate transactions
in any of our other securities (described in this prospectus or otherwise), including other public or private transactions and
short sales. Underwriters may offer securities to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more
managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement,
the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions, and the underwriters will
be obligated to purchase all the offered securities if they purchase any of them. The underwriters may change from time to time
any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.
If
dealers are used in the sale of securities offered through this prospectus, we will sell the securities to them as principals.
They may then resell those securities to the public at varying prices determined by the dealers at the time of resale. The prospectus
supplement will include the names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction.
Direct
sales and sales through agents
We
may sell the securities offered through this prospectus directly. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. Such
securities may also be sold through agents designated from time to time. The prospectus supplement will name any agent involved
in the offer or sale of the offered securities and will describe any commissions payable to the agent. Unless otherwise indicated
in the prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its
appointment.
We
may sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning
of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those securities. The terms of any such sales will be described in the prospectus
supplement.
Underwriter,
dealer or agent discounts and commissions
Underwriters,
dealers or agents may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from us or our purchasers as their
agents in connection with the sale of securities. These underwriters, dealers or agents may be considered to be underwriters under
the Securities Act. As a result, discounts, commissions, or profits on resale received by the underwriters, dealers or agents
may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions. Each prospectus supplement will identify any such underwriter, dealer
or agent, and describe any compensation received by them from us. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions
allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time. The maximum commission or discount to be received by
any underwriter, dealer or agent will not be greater than eight percent (8%) of the maximum gross proceeds of the securities that
may be sold under this prospectus.
Delayed
delivery contracts
If
the prospectus supplement indicates, we may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers from certain types of
institutions to purchase securities at the public offering price under delayed delivery contracts. These contracts would provide
for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts would be subject only to those conditions described
in the prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the commission payable for solicitation of those
contracts.
Market
making, stabilization and other transactions
Unless
the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, each series of offered securities will be a new issue and will have no
established trading market. We may elect to list any series of offered securities on an exchange. Any underwriters that we use
in the sale of offered securities may make a market in such securities, but may discontinue such market making at any time without
notice. Therefore, we cannot assure you that the securities will have a liquid trading market.
Any
underwriter may also engage in stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Rule
104 under the Securities Exchange Act. Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase the underlying security in the open market
for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the securities. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases
of the securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions.
Penalty
bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the securities originally sold by the
syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing transactions,
syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would be in the absence
of the transactions. The underwriters may, if they commence these transactions, discontinue them at any time.
Derivative
transactions and hedging
We,
the underwriters or other agents may engage in derivative transactions involving the securities. These derivatives may consist
of short sale transactions and other hedging activities. The underwriters or agents may acquire a long or short position in the
securities, hold or resell securities acquired and purchase options or futures on the securities and other derivative instruments
with returns linked to or related to changes in the price of the securities. In order to facilitate these derivative transactions,
we may enter into security lending or repurchase agreements with the underwriters or agents. The underwriters or agents may affect
the derivative transactions through sales of the securities to the public, including short sales, or by lending the securities
in order to facilitate short sale transactions by others. The underwriters or agents may also use the securities purchased or
borrowed from us or others (or, in the case of derivatives, securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives) to
directly or indirectly settle sales of the securities or close out any related open borrowings of the securities.
Electronic
auctions
We
may also make sales through the Internet or through other electronic means. Since we may from time to time elect to offer securities
directly to the public, with or without the involvement of agents, underwriters or dealers, while utilizing the Internet or other
forms of electronic bidding or ordering systems for the pricing and allocation of such securities, you should pay particular attention
to the description of that system we will provide in a prospectus supplement.
Such
electronic system may allow bidders to directly participate, through electronic access to an auction site, by submitting conditional
offers to buy that are subject to acceptance by us, and which may directly affect the price or other terms and conditions at which
such securities are sold. These bidding or ordering systems may present to each bidder, on a so-called “real-time”
basis, relevant information to assist in making a bid, such as the clearing spread at which the offering would be sold, based
on the bids submitted, and whether a bidder’s individual bids would be accepted, prorated or rejected. For example, in the
case of a debt security, the clearing spread could be indicated as a number of “basis points” above an index treasury
note. Of course, many pricing methods can and may also be used.
Upon
completion of such an electronic auction process, securities will be allocated based on prices bid, terms of bid or other factors.
The final offering price at which securities would be sold and the allocation of securities among bidders would be based in whole
or in part on the results of the Internet or other electronic bidding process or auction.
General
information
Agents,
underwriters, and dealers may be entitled, under agreements entered into with us, to indemnification by us against certain liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act.
LEGAL
MATTERS
The
validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon by Morrison & Foerster LLP, San Francisco, California.
EXPERTS
The
financial statements of Cassava Sciences, Inc. appearing in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2019
have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon,
included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements as of December 31, 2019 are incorporated herein
by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly
and other reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet
at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current
Reports on Form 8-K, including any amendments to those reports, and other information that we file with or furnish to the SEC
pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act can also be accessed free of charge through the Internet by visiting
our website at www. www.cassavasciences.com. These filings will be available as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically
file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Information and materials contained on our website, except
for our SEC filings expressly described below, are not part of this prospectus and
are not incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
INFORMATION
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The
SEC allows us to incorporate by reference into this prospectus certain information we file with it, which means that we can disclose
important information by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part
of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede information contained
in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below that we
have previously filed with the SEC (excluding any portions of any Form 8-K that are not deemed “filed” pursuant to
the General Instructions of Form 8-K):
|
● |
our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, filed on March
26, 2020; |
|
|
|
|
● |
our
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020 and
September 30, 2020, filed on May 6, 2020, August 12, 2020 and November 9, 2020; |
|
|
|
|
● |
our
definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on March 26, 2020; |
|
|
|
|
● |
our
Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 11, 2020, May 15, 2020, June 3,
2020, June 19, 2020, September 1, 2020, September 10, 2020, September 14, 2020, November
4, 2020, November 13, 2020, December 11, 2020, January 6, 2021; and February
8, 2021; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A as
filed with the SEC on March 15, 2000, and any further amendment or report filed hereafter
for the purpose of updating such description pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange
Act. |
We also incorporate
by reference into this prospectus additional documents that we may file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d)
of the Exchange Act prior to the completion or termination of the offering, including all such documents we may file with the
SEC on or after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement,
but excluding any information deemed furnished and not filed with the SEC. Any statements contained in a previously filed document
incorporated by reference into this prospectus is deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent
that a statement contained in this prospectus, or in a subsequently filed document also incorporated by reference herein, modifies
or supersedes that statement.
We will provide
at no cost to each person who requests, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered a copy of any document
we incorporate by reference, excluding all exhibits to such incorporated documents (unless we have specifically incorporated by
reference such exhibits either in this prospectus or in the incorporated document). You may request a copy of these filings
by telephoning us at (512) 501-2444 or by writing us at the following address:
Cassava
Sciences, Inc.
7801
N Capital of Texas Highway, Suite 260
Austin,
TX 78731
United
States of America
Attn:
Investor Relations
4,081,633 Shares
Common
Stock
PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT
CASSAVA
SCIENCES, INC.
H.C.
Wainwright & Co.
February
10, 2021
Cassava Sciences (NASDAQ:SAVA)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2024 to May 2024
Cassava Sciences (NASDAQ:SAVA)
Historical Stock Chart
From May 2023 to May 2024