TARA Protara Therapeutics Inc

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)

Registration No. 333-275290

 

The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities and are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED DECEMBER 9, 2024

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To Prospectus dated November 14, 2023)

 

 

Shares of Common Stock and

Pre-Funded Warrants to Purchase Shares of Common Stock

 

 

We are offering                  shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share, in this offering and, in lieu of common stock to certain investors that so choose, pre-funded warrants to purchase              shares of common stock, pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. The purchase price of each pre-funded warrant equals the price per share at which shares of common stock are being sold to the public in this offering, minus $0.001, and the exercise price of each pre-funded warrant equals $0.001 per share. This prospectus supplement also relates to the offering of the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of such pre-funded warrants.

 

Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market, or Nasdaq, under the symbol “TARA.” On December 6, 2024, the last reported sale price of our common stock was $5.91 per share. There is no established public trading market for the pre-funded warrants, and we do not expect a market to develop. In addition, we do not intend to apply for a listing of the pre-funded warrants on Nasdaq, any other national securities exchange or any other nationally recognized trading system.

 

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should review carefully the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” on page S-4 of this prospectus supplement and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement.

 

We are a “smaller reporting company” under applicable federal securities laws, and, as such, we are subject to reduced public company reporting requirements. See “Prospectus Supplement Summary—Implications of Being a Smaller Reporting Company.”

 

NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

 

 

Per Share

Per Pre-Funded Warrant

Total

Public offering price

$

$

$

Underwriting discounts and commissions(1)

$

$

$

Proceeds, before expenses, to us

$

$

$

 

(1)

See the section titled “Underwriting” for additional information regarding compensation payable to the underwriters.

 

We have granted the underwriters the option for a period of up to 30 days from the date of this prospectus supplement to purchase up to an additional                shares of common stock from us at the public offering price, less the underwriting discount.

 

The underwriters expect to deliver the shares of common stock against payment in New York, New York on December        , 2024.

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

TD Cowen

Cantor

LifeSci Capital

Oppenheimer & Co.

Scotiabank

 

 

Prospectus supplement dated December        , 2024.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Prospectus Supplement

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT	S-ii
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY	S-1
THE OFFERING	S-3
RISK FACTORS	S-4
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS	S-6
USE OF PROCEEDS	S-8
DIVIDEND POLICY	S-9
CAPITALIZATION	S-10
DILUTION	S-11
DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES WE ARE OFFERING	S-12
MATERIAL U.S. TAX CONSEQUENCES TO NON-U.S. HOLDERS	S-14
UNDERWRITING	S-17
VALITY OF SECURITIES	S-22
EXPERTS	S-22
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION	S-22
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE	S-23

 

Prospectus

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS	ii
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY	1
RISK FACTORS	5
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS	6
USE OF PROCEEDS	8
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK	8
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES	15
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS	22
LEGAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES	24
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION	27
VALIDITY OF SECURITIES	29
EXPERTS	29
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION	29
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE	30

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS sUpplement

 

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the terms of this offering of common stock and pre-funded warrants and also adds to and updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, provides more general information about our common stock and pre-funded warrants. To the extent the information contained in this prospectus supplement differs or varies from the information contained in the accompanying prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement. Any statements made in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus concerning the provisions of legal documents are not necessarily complete and you should read the documents that are filed as exhibits to the registration statement or otherwise filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for a more complete understanding of the document or matter. Before investing in our common stock or pre-funded warrants, you should carefully read both this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, together with the additional information described under “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” in this prospectus supplement.

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and in any free writing prospectus we authorize that supplements this prospectus supplement. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide you with different information or make any representations other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. If anyone other than us provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference is accurate only as of their respective dates. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since the date of those respective documents.

   

Unless otherwise stated, all references in this prospectus supplement to “we,” “us,” “our,” “Protara,” the “Company” and similar designations refer to Protara Therapeutics, Inc. This prospectus supplement contains references to trademarks belonging to other entities. Solely for convenience, trademarks and trade names referred to in this prospectus supplement, including logos, artwork and other visual displays, may appear without the ® or ™ symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that the applicable licensor will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, its rights to these trademarks and trade names. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trade names or trademarks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies.

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully review the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024, as updated by our annual, quarterly and other reports and documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, before deciding whether to purchase any of the securities being registered pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement is a part. Each of the risk factors could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, as well as adversely affect the value of an investment in our securities, and the occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial may also significantly impair our business operations.

 

Risks Related to this Offering

 

The price of our common stock has been and may continue to be volatile and fluctuate substantially, and investors may lose all or part of their investment.

 

Our stock price has been volatile and may continue to be subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors. The stock market in general and the market for biopharmaceutical companies in particular have experienced extreme volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies, including in connection with conflicts in various regions of the world, increasing inflation rates, and interest rate changes, which have resulted in decreased stock prices for many companies notwithstanding the lack of a fundamental change in their underlying business models or prospects. As a result of this volatility, you may lose all or part of your investment.

 

Market and industry factors may cause the market price and demand for shares of our common stock to fluctuate substantially, regardless of our actual operating performance, which may limit or prevent investors from selling their shares at or above the price paid for the shares of common stock or pre-funded warrants, as applicable, and may otherwise negatively affect the liquidity of our common stock. The realization of any of the above risks or any of a broad range of other risks, including those described in this section, could have a significant and material adverse impact on the market price of our common stock. The price of our common stock may be disproportionately affected as investors may favor traditional profit-making industries and companies during the times of market uncertainty and instability.

 

If you purchase our securities in this offering, you would suffer immediate and substantial dilution of your investment.

 

If you purchase securities in this offering, you will incur immediate and substantial dilution. The offering price will be substantially higher than the as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock after this offering. To the extent outstanding common warrants or pre-funded warrants are exercised, or preferred stock is converted, new stock options are issued or we issue additional shares of common stock in the future, including through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, there will be further dilution to new investors. This dilution would be due to the substantially lower price paid by some of our investors who purchased shares prior to this offering as compared to the price offered to the public in this offering. In addition, we have a significant number of pre-funded warrants and common warrants outstanding. The exercise of any of these outstanding pre-funded warrants or common warrants would result in further dilution. As a result of the dilution to investors purchasing shares in this offering, investors may receive significantly less than the purchase price paid in this offering, if anything, in the event of our liquidation. For a further description of the dilution that you will experience immediately after this offering, see the section titled “Dilution.”

 

Future sales and issuances of our common stock or rights to purchase common stock, including pursuant to our equity incentive plans, could result in additional dilution of the percentage ownership of our stockholders and could cause our stock price to fall.

 

Additional capital will be needed in the future to continue our planned operations. To the extent we issue additional equity securities to raise capital or pursuant to our equity incentive plans or other contractual obligations, our stockholders may experience substantial dilution. We may sell common stock, convertible securities or other equity securities in one or more transactions at prices and in a manner we determine from time to time. If we sell or issue common stock, convertible securities or other equity securities in more than one transaction, investors may be materially diluted by subsequent sales. These sales may also result in material dilution to our existing stockholders, and new investors could gain rights superior to our existing stockholders. In addition, sales of a substantial number of shares of our outstanding common stock 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 common stock intend to sell shares, could reduce the market price of our common stock. Sales by our stockholders of a substantial number of shares or distributions of their holdings to their respective limited partners and other equity holders, or the expectation that such sales or distributions, or the expectation that such sales may occur, could significantly reduce the market price of our common stock.

 

 

Further, because we expect we will need to raise additional capital to fund our future activities, we may in the future sell substantial amounts of common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stock. Future issuances of common stock or common stock-related securities, together with the exercise of outstanding stock options or warrants, the vesting and settlement of outstanding restricted stock units, and new equity awards granted under our equity incentive plans, if any, may result in further dilution.

 

We have broad discretion in the use of our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities and the net proceeds from this offering and may not use them effectively.

 

Our management will have broad discretion in the application of our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities and the net proceeds from this offering, including for any of the purposes described in the section entitled “Use of Proceeds,” and you will not have the opportunity as part of your investment decision to assess whether such proceeds are being used appropriately. Because of the number and variability of factors that will determine our use of our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable debt securities and the net proceeds from this offering, their ultimate use may vary substantially from their currently intended use. Our management might not apply our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities and the net proceeds from this offering in ways that ultimately increase the value of your investment. The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could harm our business, cause the price of our common stock to decline and delay the development of our product candidates. If we do not apply the net proceeds from this offering in ways that enhance stockholder value, we may fail to achieve expected financial results, which could cause our stock price to decline.

 

There is no public market for the pre-funded warrants being offered in this offering.

 

There is no public trading market for the pre-funded warrants being offered in this offering, and we do not expect a market to develop. In addition, we do not intend to apply to list the pre-funded warrants on any securities exchange or nationally recognized trading system, including Nasdaq. Without an active market, the liquidity of the pre-funded warrants will be limited.

 

We will not receive any meaningful amount of additional funds upon the exercise of the pre-funded warrants.

 

Each pre-funded warrant may be exercised by way of a cashless exercise, meaning that the holder may not pay a cash purchase price upon exercise, but instead would receive upon such exercise the net number of shares of our common stock determined according to the formula set forth in the pre-funded warrant. Accordingly, we may not receive any additional funds upon the exercise of the pre-funded warrants. Furthermore, even if exercised by means of cash payment of the exercise price, we will not receive any meaningful additional funds upon the exercise of the pre-funded warrants. 

 

Holders of pre-funded warrants purchased in this offering will have no rights as holders of our common stock with respect to the shares of common stock underlying such pre-funded warrants until such holders exercise their pre-funded warrants and acquire our common stock.

 

Until holders of pre-funded warrants acquire shares of our common stock upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants, holders of pre-funded warrants will have no rights with respect to the shares of our common stock underlying such pre-funded warrants including with respect to dividends and voting rights. Upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants, the holders will be entitled to exercise the rights of a holder of our common stock only as to matters for which the record date occurs after the exercise date.

 

Significant holders or beneficial holders of our common stock may not be permitted to exercise pre-funded warrants that they hold.

 

A holder of a pre-funded warrant will not be entitled to exercise any portion of any pre-funded warrant which, upon giving effect to such exercise, would cause (i) the aggregate number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned by the holder (together with its affiliates) to exceed 4.99% (or, at the election of the holder, up to 19.99%) of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, or (ii) the combined voting power of our securities beneficially owned by the holder (together with its affiliates) to exceed 4.99% (or, at the election of the holder, up to 19.99%) of the combined voting power of all of our securities then outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the pre-funded warrants. As a result, you may not be able to exercise your pre-funded warrants for shares of our common stock at a time when it would be financially beneficial for you to do so. In such circumstance you could seek to sell your pre-funded warrants to realize value, but you may be unable to do so in the absence of an established trading market for the pre-funded warrants.

 

 

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the information incorporated herein by reference, contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on our management’s current beliefs, expectations and assumptions about future events, conditions and results and on information currently available to us. Discussions containing these forward-looking statements may be found, among other places, in the sections titled “Business,” “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” incorporated by reference from our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2024, as well as any amendments thereto, filed with the SEC.

 

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “design,” “due,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “plan,” “predict,” “positioned,” “potential,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” or the negative or plural of those terms, and similar expressions intended to identify statements about the future, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these statements.

 

Any statements in this prospectus supplement, or incorporated herein by reference, about our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not historical facts and are forward-looking statements. Within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Exchange Act these forward-looking statements include statements regarding:

 

●

estimates regarding our financial performance, including future revenue, expenses and capital requirements;

 

●

our expected cash position and ability to obtain financing in the future on satisfactory terms or at all;

 

●

expectations regarding our plans to research, develop and commercialize our current and future product candidates, including TARA-002 and IV Choline Chloride;

 

●

expectations regarding the safety and efficacy of our product candidates;

 

●

expectations regarding the timing, costs and outcomes of our clinical trials;

 

●

expectations regarding potential market size;

 

●

expectations regarding the timing of the availability of data from our clinical trials;

 

●

expectations regarding the clinical utility, potential benefits and market acceptance of our product candidates;

 

●

expectations regarding our commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities and strategy;

 

●

the implementation of our business model, strategic plans for our business, product candidates and technology;

 

●

expectations regarding our ability to identify additional products or product candidates with significant commercial potential;

 

●

developments and projections relating to our competitors and industry;

 

●

our ability to acquire, license and invest in businesses, technologies, product candidates and products;

 

●

our ability to remain listed on Nasdaq;

 

 

●

the impact of government laws and regulations;

 

●

costs and outcomes relating to any disputes, governmental inquiries or investigations, regulatory proceedings, legal proceedings or litigation;

 

●

our ability to attract and retain key personnel to manage our business effectively;

 

●

our ability to prevent system failures, data breaches or violations of data protection laws;

 

●

the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals;

 

●

our ability to protect our intellectual property position; and

 

●

the impact of general U.S., foreign and global economic, industry, market, regulatory, political or public health conditions.

 

You should refer to the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus supplement, as well as the “Risk Factors” section contained in the accompanying prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, for a discussion of important factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. Given these risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this prospectus supplement will prove to be accurate, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Furthermore, if our forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by us or any other person that we will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all.

 

Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or developments occurring after the date of this prospectus supplement, even if new information becomes available in the future.

 

This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference herein also contains estimates, projections and other information concerning our industry, our business, and the markets for certain medical conditions, including data regarding the estimated size of those markets, and the incidence and prevalence of certain medical conditions. Information that is based on estimates, forecasts, projections, market research or similar methodologies is inherently subject to uncertainties and actual events or circumstances may differ materially from events and circumstances reflected in this information. Unless otherwise expressly stated, we obtained this industry, business, market and other data from reports, research surveys, studies and similar data prepared by market research firms and other third parties, industry, medical and general publications, government data and similar sources.

 

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering, after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering costs, will be approximately $       million. If the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of common stock is exercised in full, we estimate that our net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $         million.

 

We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to fund the clinical development of TARA-002, as well as the development of other clinical programs. We may also use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

 

The amounts and timing of our actual expenditures will depend on numerous factors, including the time and cost necessary to conduct our planned clinical trials, the results of our planned clinical trials and other factors described in the section titled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference herein, as well as the amount of cash used in our operations and any unforeseen cash needs. Therefore, our actual expenditures may differ materially from the estimates described above. We may find it necessary or advisable to use the net proceeds for other purposes, and we will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds.

 

We intend to invest the net proceeds to us from the offering that are not used as described above in short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing instruments.

 

 

DIVIDEND POLICY

 

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our capital stock. We currently plan to retain all of our future earnings, if any, to finance the operation, development and growth of our business. We do not expect to pay any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. Payment of future dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, restrictions contained in current or future financing instruments, provisions of applicable law and other factors the board deems relevant. Our ability to pay dividends on our common stock may be restricted by the terms of any of our future indebtedness.

 

 

CAPITALIZATION

 

The following table sets forth our cash, cash equivalents and marketable debt securities and capitalization as of September 30, 2024:

 

●

on an actual basis;

 

●

on an as adjusted basis, giving effect to the sale and issuance by us of (i) shares of common stock in this offering, at the public offering price of $            per share and (ii) pre-funded warrants to purchase           shares of our common stock in this offering at a public offering price of $         per underlying share warrant (which equals the price per share at which shares of our common stock are being sold in this offering, minus the $0.001 per share exercise price of each such pre-funded warrant), excluding shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants but excluding any resulting accounting associated therewith, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of common stock).

 

You should read this information together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. For more details on how you can obtain our SEC reports and other information, you should read the section of this prospectus supplement entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

		As of September 30, 2024
(in thousands, except per share data) (unaudited)		Actual				As Adjusted
Cash and cash equivalents		$	51,757			$
Marketable debt securities		$	29,742			$
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share; 8,028 shares of Series 1 Convertible Preferred Stock authorized; 7,991 shares issued and outstanding, actual, shares issued and outstanding as adjusted			-
Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 20,629,772 shares issued and outstanding, actual,          shares issued and outstanding as adjusted			21
Additional paid-in capital			313,952
Accumulated other comprehensive income			29
Accumulated deficit			(232,211	)
Total shareholders’ equity		$	81,791			$
Total capitalization		$	133,548			$

 

The table and discussion above do not include:

 

●

1,700,000 shares of our common stock that are issuable upon the exercise of pre-funded warrants outstanding, at an exercise price of $0.001 per share;

 

●

10,843,380 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of common warrants outstanding, at an exercise price of $5.25 per share;

 

●

7,993,217 shares of our common stock issuable upon the conversion of 7,991 shares of our Series 1 Preferred Stock outstanding; and

 

●

6,934,992 shares of common stock reserved for issuance under our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, 2017 Equity Incentive Plan, 2020 Inducement Plan, 2024 Equity Incentive Plan and 2024 Employee Stock Purchase Plan; which includes:

 

o

585,414 shares of common stock issuable upon the settlement of restricted stock units outstanding; and

 

o

3,834,478 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding, at a weighted average exercise price of $7.31 per share.

 

 

DILUTION

 

If you invest in our securities in this offering, your ownership interest will be diluted immediately to the extent of the difference between the public offering price per share of common stock or pre-funded warrant, as applicable, and the as adjusted net tangible book value per share of common stock immediately after this offering.

 

Our historical net tangible book value as of September 30, 2024 was $81.8 million, or $3.96 per share of common stock. Our historical net tangible book value is the amount of our total tangible assets less our total liabilities. Historical net tangible book value per share represents historical net tangible book value divided by the 20,629,772 shares of common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2024.

 

After giving effect to the issuance and sale of (i)          shares of common stock in this offering at the public offering price of $          per share and (ii) pre-funded warrants to purchase          shares of our common stock in this offering at a public offering price of $         per underlying share warrant (which equals the price per share at which shares of our common stock are being sold in this offering, minus the $0.001 per share exercise price of each such pre-funded warrant), excluding shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants but excluding any resulting accounting associated therewith, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted net tangible book deficit as of September 30, 2024 would have been $          , or $          per share of common stock. This represents an immediate increase in as adjusted net tangible book value of $          per share to existing shareholders and immediate dilution in as adjusted net tangible book value of $          per share to new investors purchasing common stock in this offering. The following table illustrates this per share dilution:

 

Public offering price per share						$
Historical net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2024		$	3.96
Increase in as adjusted net tangible book value per share attributable to this offering		$
As adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering
Dilution per share to new investors purchasing common shares in this offering						$

 

If holders of the pre-funded warrants exercise the pre-funded warrants in full, the as adjusted net tangible book value per share after giving effect to this offering would be $          per share, representing an immediate increase to existing stockholders of $           per share, and immediate dilution to new investors in this offering of $         per share. If the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares of common stock in this offering in full, the as adjusted net tangible book deficit per share after this offering would be $          per share and the dilution in as adjusted net tangible book value per share to new investors purchasing common stock in this offering would be $          per share, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

The table and discussion above do not include:

 

●

1,700,000 shares of our common stock that are issuable upon the exercise of pre-funded warrants outstanding, at an exercise price of $0.001 per share;

 

●

10,843,380 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of common warrants outstanding, at an exercise price of $5.25 per share;

 

●

7,993,217 shares of our common stock issuable upon the conversion of 7,991 shares of our Series 1 Preferred Stock outstanding; and

 

●

6,934,992 shares of common stock reserved for issuance under our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, 2017 Equity Incentive Plan, 2020 Inducement Plan, 2024 Equity Incentive Plan and 2024 Employee Stock Purchase Plan; which includes:

 

o

585,414 shares of common stock issuable upon the settlement of restricted stock units outstanding; and

 

o

3,834,478 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding, at a weighted average exercise price of $7.31 per share.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES WE ARE OFFERING

 

The following is a brief summary of certain terms and conditions of the common stock and pre-funded warrants being offered in this offering. The following description is subject in all respects to the provisions contained in instruments governing the applicable security.

 

Common Stock

 

The material terms and provisions of our common stock are described under the heading “Description of Capital Stock” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

Pre-Funded Warrants

 

Form

 

The pre-funded warrants will be issued as individual warrant agreements to each individual investor of a pre-funded warrant. The form of pre-funded warrant will be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K that we will file with the SEC.

 

Exercisability and Term

 

The pre-funded warrants are exercisable at any time after their original issuance. The pre-funded warrants will be exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part, by delivering to us a duly executed exercise notice and by payment in full of the exercise price in immediately available funds for the number of shares of our common stock purchased upon such exercise. As an alternative to payment of the exercise price in immediately available funds, the holder may elect to exercise the pre-funded warrant through a cashless exercise, in which case the holder would receive upon such exercise the net number of shares of our common stock determined according to the formula set forth in the pre-funded warrant. No fractional shares of our common stock will be issued in connection with the exercise of a pre-funded warrant. As to any fraction of a share which a holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such exercise of the pre-funded warrant, the Company will, at its election, either pay a cash adjustment in respect of the final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the exercise price or round up to the next whole share. The pre-funded warrants do not expire.

 

Exercise Limitations

 

Under the pre-funded warrants, we may not effect the exercise of any pre-funded warrant, and a holder will not be entitled to exercise any portion of any pre-funded warrant, which, upon giving effect to such exercise, would cause the aggregate number of our shares of common stock beneficially owned by such holder (together with its affiliates and any other persons whose beneficial ownership of ordinary shares would be aggregated with the holder for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) to exceed 4.99% of the total number of then issued and outstanding shares of common stock, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the pre-funded warrant and subject to such holder’s rights under the pre-funded warrant to increase or decrease such percentage to any other percentage not in excess of 19.99% (provided that any such increase will not be effective until 61st day after such notice is delivered to us).

 

Exercise Price

 

The exercise price per whole share of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of the pre-funded warrants is $0.001 per share of our common stock. The exercise price of the pre-funded warrants and the number of shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants are subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of certain stock dividends and distributions, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications or similar events affecting our common stock and also upon any dividend or other pro rata distributions of assets, including cash, stock or other property to holders of our common stock.

 

 

Transferability

 

Subject to applicable laws, the pre-funded warrants may be offered for sale, sold, transferred or assigned without our consent. The pre-funded warrants will be held in definitive form by the investors. The ownership of the pre-funded warrants and any transfers of the pre-funded warrants will be registered in a warrant register maintained by us or our behalf.

 

Exchange Listing

 

We do not plan on applying to list the pre-funded warrants on Nasdaq, any other national securities exchange or any other nationally recognized trading system.

 

Fundamental Transactions

 

In the event of a fundamental transaction, as described in the pre-funded warrants and including certain reorganizations, recapitalizations or reclassifications of our common stock, the sale of all or substantially all of our assets, our consolidation or merger with or into another person, in which the Company is not the surviving entity, the acquisition of more than 50% of our outstanding common stock, or any person or group becoming the beneficial owner of 50% of the voting power represented by our outstanding common stock, upon consummation of such a fundamental transaction, the holders of the pre-funded warrants will be entitled to receive upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants the number of shares of common stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if we are the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration receivable as a result of such fundamental transaction by a holder of the number of shares of common stock for which the pre-funded warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such fundamental transaction (without regard to the beneficial ownership limitation set forth in the pre-funded warrant on the exercise of the pre-funded warrant).

 

No Rights as a Stockholder

 

Except by virtue of such holder’s ownership of shares of our common stock or as otherwise provided in accordance with the terms of the pre-funded warrants, the holder of a pre-funded warrant does not have the rights or privileges of a holder of our common stock, including any voting rights or the rights to receive dividends, until the holder exercises the pre-funded warrant.

 

 

MATERIAL U.S. TAX CONSEQUENCES TO NON-U.S. HOLDERS

 

This section summarizes certain U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of common stock and pre-funded warrants, which we refer to as our securities, by a non-U.S. holder. You are a non-U.S. holder if you are, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

●

a nonresident alien individual;

 

●

a foreign corporation; or

 

●

an estate or trust that in either case is not subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis on income or gain from securities.

 

This section does not consider the specific facts and circumstances that may be relevant to a particular non-U.S. holder and does not address the treatment of a non-U.S. holder under the laws of any state, local or foreign taxing jurisdiction. This section is based on the tax laws of the United States, including the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), existing and proposed regulations, and administrative and judicial interpretations, all as currently in effect. These laws are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis. We have not sought and will not seek any rulings from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) regarding the matters discussed below.

 

If an entity or arrangement that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our securities, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the tax treatment of the partnership. A partner in a partnership holding our securities should consult its tax advisor with regard to the U.S. federal income tax treatment of an investment in, and disposition of, the securities.

 

You should consult a tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal tax consequences of acquiring, holding and disposing of the securities in your particular circumstances, as well as any tax consequences that may arise under the laws of any state, local or foreign taxing jurisdiction.

 

Treatment of Pre-Funded Warrants

 

Although it is not entirely free from doubt, a pre-funded warrant should be treated as a share of our common stock for U.S. federal income tax purposes and a holder of pre-funded warrants should generally be taxed in the same manner as a holder of common stock, as described below. Accordingly, no gain or loss should be recognized upon the exercise of a pre-funded warrant, and, upon exercise, the holding period of a pre-funded warrant should carry over to the share of common stock received. Similarly, the tax basis of the pre-funded warrant should carry over to the share of common stock received upon exercise, increased by the exercise price of $0.001. Each holder should consult his, her or its own tax advisor regarding the risks associated with the acquisition of pre-funded warrants pursuant to this offering (including potential alternative characterizations).

 

The remainder of this discussion generally assumes that the characterization described above is respected for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

Dividends

 

If we make a distribution of cash or other property (other than certain distributions of our stock) in respect of our common stock, the distribution generally will be treated as a dividend to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Any portion of a distribution that exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits will generally be treated first as a tax-free return of capital, on a share-by-share basis, to the extent of your tax basis in our common stock (and will reduce your basis in such common stock), and, to the extent such portion exceeds your tax basis in our common stock, the excess will be treated as gain from the taxable disposition of our common stock, the tax treatment of which is discussed below under “Sale or Other Disposition of Common Stock.”

 

 

Except as described below, if you are a non-U.S. holder of common stock, dividends paid to you are subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a 30% rate or at a lower rate if you are eligible for the benefits of an income tax treaty that provides for a lower rate. Even if you are eligible for a lower treaty rate, we and other payors will generally be required to withhold at a 30% rate (rather than the lower treaty rate) on dividend payments to you, unless you have furnished to us or another payor:

 

●

a valid IRS Form W-8 or an acceptable substitute form upon which you certify, under penalties of perjury, your status as a non-U.S. person and your entitlement to the lower treaty rate with respect to such payments; or

 

●

in the case of payments made outside the United States to an offshore account (generally, an account maintained by you at an office or branch of a bank or other financial institution at any location outside the United States), other documentary evidence establishing your entitlement to the lower treaty rate in accordance with U.S. Treasury regulations.

 

If you are eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. withholding tax under a tax treaty, you may obtain a refund of any amounts withheld in excess of that rate by filing a refund claim with the U.S. IRS.

 

If dividends paid to you are “effectively connected” with your conduct of a trade or business within the United States, and, if required by a tax treaty, the dividends are attributable to a permanent establishment that you maintain in the United States, we and other payors generally are not required to withhold tax from the dividends, provided that you have furnished to us or another payor a valid IRS Form W-8ECI or an acceptable substitute form upon which you represent, under penalties of perjury, that:

 

●

you are a non-U.S. person; and

 

●

the dividends are effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business within the United States and are includible in your gross income.

 

“Effectively connected” dividends are taxed at rates applicable to U.S. citizens, resident aliens and domestic U.S. corporations.

 

If you are a corporate non-U.S. holder, “effectively connected” dividends that you receive may, under certain circumstances, be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate or at a lower rate if you are eligible for the benefits of an income tax treaty that provides for a lower rate.

 

Sale or Other Disposition of Securities

 

You generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain that you recognize on a disposition of our securities unless:

 

●

the gain is “effectively connected” with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and the gain is attributable to a permanent establishment that you maintain in the United States, if that is required by an applicable income tax treaty as a condition for subjecting you to U.S. taxation on a net income basis);

 

●

you are an individual, you hold your securities as a capital asset, you are present in the United States for 183 or more days in the taxable year of the sale and certain other conditions exist; or

 

●

we are or have been a “U.S. real property holding corporation” (as described below) at any time within the five-year period preceding the disposition or your holding period, whichever period is shorter, you are not eligible for a treaty exemption, and either (i) our common stock is not regularly traded on an established securities market during the calendar year in which the sale or disposition occurs or (ii) you owned or are deemed to have owned, at any time within the five-year period preceding the disposition or your holding period, whichever period is shorter, more than 5% of our common stock.

 

 

If the gain from the taxable disposition of our securities is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by a tax treaty, the gain is attributable to a permanent establishment that you maintain in the United States), you will be subject to tax on the net gain derived from the sale at rates applicable to U.S. citizens, resident aliens and domestic U.S. corporations. If you are a corporate non-U.S. holder, “effectively connected” gains that you recognize may also, under certain circumstances, be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate or at a lower rate if you are eligible for the benefits of an income tax treaty that provides for a lower rate. If you are an individual non-U.S. holder described in the second bullet point immediately above, you will be subject to a flat 30% tax (unless an applicable income tax treaty provides otherwise) on the gain derived from the sale, which may be offset by U.S. source capital losses, even though you are not considered a resident of the United States.

 

We will be a U.S. real property holding corporation at any time that the fair market value of our “U.S. real property interests,” as defined in the Code and applicable Treasury Regulations, equals or exceeds 50% of the aggregate fair market value of our worldwide real property interests and our other assets used or held for use in a trade or business (all as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes). We believe that we are not, and do not anticipate becoming in the foreseeable future, a U.S. real property holding corporation.

 

FATCA Withholding

 

Pursuant to sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, commonly known as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or the FATCA, a 30% withholding tax, which we refer to as FATCA withholding, may be imposed on certain payments to you or to certain foreign financial institutions, investment funds and other non-US persons receiving payments on your behalf if you or such persons fail to comply with certain information reporting requirements. Payments of dividends that you receive in respect of common stock could be affected by this withholding if you are subject to the FATCA information reporting requirements and fail to comply with them or if you hold common stock through a non-US person (e.g., a foreign bank or broker) that fails to comply with these requirements (even if payments to you would not otherwise have been subject to FATCA withholding). You should consult your own tax advisors regarding relevant U.S. law and the potential application of withholding under FATCA to your investment in our common stock.

 

Federal Estate Taxes

 

Securities held by a non-U.S. holder at the time of death will be included in the holder’s gross estate for U.S. federal estate tax purposes, unless an applicable estate tax treaty provides otherwise.

 

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

 

We and other payors are required to report payments of dividends on IRS Form 1042-S even if the payments are exempt from withholding. You are otherwise generally exempt from backup withholding and information reporting requirements with respect to dividend payments and the payment of the proceeds from the sale of securities effected at a U.S. office of a broker provided that either (i) you have furnished a valid IRS Form W-8 or other documentation upon which the payor or broker may rely to treat the payments as made to a non-U.S. person, or (ii) you otherwise establish an exemption.

 

Payment of the proceeds from the sale of securities effected at a foreign office of a broker generally will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding. However, a sale effected at a foreign office of a broker could be subject to information reporting in the same manner as a sale within the United States (and in certain cases may be subject to backup withholding as well) if (i) the broker has certain connections to the United States, (ii) the proceeds or confirmation are sent to the United States or (iii) the sale has certain other specified connections with the United States.

 

 

UNDERWRITING

 

We and the underwriters named below have entered into an underwriting agreement with respect to the shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants being offered. Subject to certain conditions, each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase the number of shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants indicated in the following table. TD Securities (USA) LLC, Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. and LifeSci Capital LLC are acting as the representatives of the underwriters.

 

Underwriters		Number of Shares				Number of  Pre-Funded Warrants
TD Securities (USA) LLC
Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.
LifeSci Capital LLC
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.
Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.
Total

 

The underwriters are committed to take and pay for all of the shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants being offered, if any are taken, other than the shares covered by the option described below unless and until this option is exercised. If an underwriter defaults, the underwriting agreement provides that the purchase commitments of the non-defaulting underwriters may be increased or the underwriting agreement may be terminated.

 

The underwriters will have an option to purchase up to an additional shares of common stock from us. They may exercise that option for 30 days. If any shares are purchased pursuant to this option, the underwriters will severally purchase shares in approximately the same proportion as set forth in the table above.

 

The following table shows the per share and total underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid to the underwriters by us. Such amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of common stock.

 

Per Share (No Exercise)

Per Pre- Funded Warrant

Total

Per Share (Full Exercise)

Total

Public offering price

$

$

$

$

$

Underwriting discounts and commissions

$

$

$

$

$

Proceeds, before expenses, to us

$

$

$

$

$

 

Shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the public offering prices set forth on the cover of this prospectus supplement. Any shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants sold by the underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount of up to $          per share from the public offering price. After the initial offering of the shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants, the representative may change the offering price and the other selling terms. The offering of the shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriters’ right to reject any order in whole or in part. Sales of any shares of common stock may be made by affiliates of the underwriters.

 

We and our directors and executive officers have agreed with the underwriters, subject to certain exceptions, not to offer, sell, assign, transfer, pledge, contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of or announce the intention to otherwise dispose of, or enter into any swap, hedge or similar agreement or arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, the economic consequence of ownership of, directly or indirectly, or make any demand or request or exercise any right with respect to the registration of, or file with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any common stock without the prior written consent of TD Securities (USA) LLC, for a period of 60 days after the date of the pricing of the offering.

 

 

This lock-up provision applies to common stock and to securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for common stock. It also applies to common stock owned now or acquired later by the person executing the agreement or for which the person executing the agreement later acquires the power of disposition. The exceptions permit us, among other things and subject to restrictions, to: (a) issue common stock, restricted stock units, options and other equity compensation awards pursuant to employee benefit plans or in other forms of employee compensation arrangements, as well as effectuate tax withholdings upon vesting of existing awards held by our directors, executive officers and employees, (b) issue common stock upon exercise of outstanding options or warrants, (c) issue securities in connection with acquisitions or similar transactions, or (d) file registration statements on Form S-8. The exceptions permit parties to the ‘‘lock-up’’ agreements, among other things and subject to restrictions, to: (a) make certain gifts, (b) if the party is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, make transfers to any shareholders, partners, members of, or owners of similar equity interests in, the party, or to an affiliate of the party, if such transfer is not for value, (c) if the party is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, make transfers in connection with the sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the party’s capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests or other similar equity interests, as the case may be, or all or substantially all of the party’s assets, in any such case not undertaken for the purpose of avoiding the restrictions imposed by the “lock-up” agreement, (d) make transfers to us in connection with the termination of employment, (e) engage in transactions relating to common stock or other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock acquired in this offering or in open market transactions after completion of this offering, (f) enter into trading plans providing for the sale of common stock or other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, (g) make transfers to us, or any sales by us on behalf of the parties to the lock-up, to satisfy tax withholding obligations pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plans or arrangements or (h) make transfers to us in connection with the repurchase of shares of common stock or other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock as required by the terms of (x) any equity incentive plans or arrangements disclosed herein or (y) any agreements pursuant to which such shares of common stock were issued. In addition, the lock-up provision will not restrict broker-dealers from engaging in market making and similar activities conducted in the ordinary course of their business.

 

TD Securities (USA) LLC in its sole discretion, may release our common stock and other securities subject to the lock-up agreements described above in whole or in part at any time. When determining whether or not to release our common stock and other securities from lock-up agreements, TD Securities (USA) LLC will consider, among other factors, the holder’s reasons for requesting the release, the number of shares for which the release is being requested and market conditions at the time of the request.

 

In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell shares of common stock in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of shares than they are required to purchase in the offering, and a short position represents the amount of such sales that have not been covered by subsequent purchases. A “covered short position” is a short position that is not greater than the amount of additional shares for which the underwriters’ option described above may be exercised. The underwriters may cover any covered short position by either exercising their option to purchase additional shares or purchasing shares in the open market. In determining the source of shares to cover the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase additional shares pursuant to the option described above. “Naked” short sales are any short sales that create a short position greater than the amount of additional shares for which the option described above may be exercised. The underwriters must cover any such naked short position by purchasing shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the common stock in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of various bids for or purchases of common stock made by the underwriters in the open market prior to the completion of the offering.

 

The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representatives have repurchased shares sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.

 

Purchases to cover a short position and stabilizing transactions, as well as other purchases by the underwriters for their own accounts, may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the company’s stock, and together with the imposition of the penalty bid, may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the common stock. As a result, the price of the common stock may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any time. These transactions may be effected on Nasdaq, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

 

 

We estimate that our share of the total expenses of the offering, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $                .

 

We will also agree to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the websites maintained by one or more of the underwriters or selling group members, if any, participating in this offering and one or more of the underwriters participating in this offering may distribute prospectuses electronically. The representatives may agree to allocate a number of shares to underwriters and selling group members for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the underwriters and selling group members that will make internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations. Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on these websites is not part of this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved or endorsed by us or any underwriter in its capacity as underwriter, and should not be relied upon by investors.

 

The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future perform, various financial advisory and investment banking services for us, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses.

 

In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of the issuer. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

 

European Economic Area

 

The shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the European Economic Area (the “EEA”). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU, as amended (“MiFID II”); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97, as amended (the “Insurance Distribution Directive”), where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, as amended (the “Prospectus Regulation”). The expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase the common stock or pre-funded warrants. Consequently no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014, as amended (the “PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the shares, or otherwise making them available, to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.

 

This prospectus supplement has been prepared on the basis that any offer of shares in the EEA will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of shares. This prospectus supplement is not a prospectus for the purposes of the Prospectus Regulation.

 

This EEA selling restriction is in addition to any other selling restrictions set out in this prospectus supplement.

 

 

United Kingdom

 

The shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the United Kingdom. For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended (the “EUWA”); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (the “FSMA”), and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the “UK Prospectus Regulation”). The expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase the common stock and pre-funded warrants. Consequently no key information document required by Regulation (EU) 1286/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the “UK PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the shares of common stock or pre-funded warrants or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the UK has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the shares of common stock or pre-funded warrants, or otherwise making them available, to any retail investor in the UK may be unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation.

 

This prospectus supplement has been prepared on the basis that any offer of shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants in the UK will be made pursuant to an exemption under the UK Prospectus Regulation and the FSMA from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants. This prospectus supplement is not a prospectus for the purposes of the UK Prospectus Regulation or the FSMA.

 

Each underwriter has represented and agreed that, in connection with the distribution of the shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants,

 

(a)

it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom; and

 

(b)

it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) received by it in connection with the issue and sale of such shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to us.

 

This prospectus supplement is only being distributed to and is only being directed at: (i) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Order”); or (ii) high net worth companies, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). The shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire the shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this prospectus supplement or any of their contents.

 

 

Canada

 

The shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants may be sold in Canada only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions, and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants must be made in accordance with an exemption form, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws. Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contain a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

 

Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

 

Israel

 

In the State of Israel this prospectus supplement shall not be regarded as an offer to the public to purchase shares of common stock under the Israeli Securities Law, 5728 – 1968, which requires a prospectus to be published and authorized by the Israel Securities Authority, if it complies with certain provisions of Section 15 of the Israeli Securities Law, 5728–1968, including, inter alia, if: (i) the offer is made, distributed or directed to not more than 35 investors, subject to certain conditions (the “Addressed Investors”); or (ii) the offer is made, distributed or directed to certain qualified investors defined in the First Addendum of the Israeli Securities Law, 5728 – 1968, subject to certain conditions (the “Qualified Investors”). The Qualified Investors shall not be taken into account in the count of the Addressed Investors and may be offered to purchase securities in addition to the 35 Addressed Investors. The Company has not and will not take any action that would require it to publish a prospectus in accordance with and subject to the Israeli Securities Law, 5728 – 1968. We have not and will not distribute this prospectus or make, distribute or direct an offer to subscribe for our common stock to any person within the State of Israel, other than to Qualified Investors and up to 35 Addressed Investors.

 

Qualified Investors may have to submit written evidence that they meet the definitions set out in of the First Addendum to the Israeli Securities Law, 5728 – 1968. In particular, we may request, as a condition to be offered common stock, that Qualified Investors will each represent, warrant and certify to us and/or to anyone acting on our behalf: (i) that it is an investor falling within one of the categories listed in the First Addendum to the Israeli Securities Law, 5728 – 1968; (ii) which of the categories listed in the First Addendum to the Israeli Securities Law, 5728 – 1968 regarding Qualified Investors is applicable to it; (iii) that it will abide by all provisions set forth in the Israeli Securities Law, 5728 – 1968 and the regulations promulgated thereunder in connection with the offer to be issued common stock; (iv) that the shares of common stock that it will be issued are, subject to exemptions available under the Israeli Securities Law, 5728 – 1968: (a) for its own account; (b) for investment purposes only; and (c) not issued with a view to resale within the State of Israel, other than in accordance with the provisions of the Israeli Securities Law, 5728 – 1968; and (v) that it is willing to provide further evidence of its Qualified Investor status. Addressed Investors may have to submit written evidence in respect of their identity and may have to sign and submit a declaration containing, inter alia, the Addressed Investor’s name, address and passport number or Israeli identification number.

 

 

VALIDITY OF SECURITIES

 

The validity of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, New York, New York. Certain legal matters will also be passed upon for the underwriters by Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., New York, New York.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of Protara Therapeutics, Inc. appearing in Protara Therapeutics, Inc.’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2023, 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 are, and audited financial statements to be included in subsequently filed documents will be, incorporated herein in reliance upon the report of Ernst & Young LLP pertaining to such financial statements (to the extent covered by consents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

This prospectus supplement is part of the registration statement on Form S-3 we filed with the SEC under the Securities Act. This prospectus supplement does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits to the registration statement. For further information with respect to us and the securities we are offering under this prospectus supplement, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed as a part of the registration statement. You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus supplement or incorporated by reference. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front page of this prospectus supplement, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus supplement or any sale of the securities offered by this prospectus supplement.

 

We must comply with the informational requirements of the Exchange Act, and we are required to file reports and proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy these reports, proxy statements and other information on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov, which contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers like us that file electronically with the SEC. We maintain a website at www.protaratx.com. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference herein and is not part of this prospectus supplement.

 

Statements contained in this prospectus supplement as to the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete, and in each instance we refer you to the copy of the contract or document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference.

 

 

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus supplement. Information in this prospectus supplement supersedes information incorporated by reference that we filed with the SEC prior to the date of this prospectus supplement, while information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the information in this prospectus supplement. We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement the documents listed below and any future filings made by us with the SEC (other than current reports or portions thereof furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits filed on such form that are related to such items and other portions of documents that are furnished, but not filed, pursuant to applicable rules promulgated by the SEC) that are filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (i) after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement is a part and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement, and (ii) after the effectiveness of the registration statement but prior to the termination of the offering of the securities covered by this prospectus supplement:

 

●

our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 13, 2024 (including those portions of our Proxy Statement for our 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the SEC on April 26, 2024 that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein);

 

●

our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2024, June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024, filed with the SEC on May 2, 2024, August 6, 2024 and November 12, 2024, respectively;

 

●

our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on March 18, 2024, April 5, 2024, June 10, 2024 and December 5, 2024; and

 

●

the description of the Company’s common stock contained in Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 11, 2021, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

 

We will furnish without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any document incorporated by reference. Requests should be addressed to 345 Park Avenue South, Third Floor, New York, New York 10010, Attn: Secretary or may be made telephonically at (646) 844-0337. Copies of these filings are also available, without charge, on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on our website www.protaratx.com as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed electronically with the SEC. The information contained on our website is not part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

 

In accordance with Rule 412 of the Securities Act, any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus shall be deemed modified, superseded or replaced for the purposes of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

$300,000,000
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants

 

From time to time, we may offer up to $300,000,000 of any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. We may also offer securities as may be issuable upon conversion, redemption, repurchase, exchange or exercise of any securities registered hereunder, including any applicable anti-dilution provisions.

 

This prospectus provides a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities, we will provide specific terms of the securities offered in a supplement to this prospectus. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you in connection with these offerings. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, as well as any documents incorporated by reference, before you invest in any of the securities being offered.

 

This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of any securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market, or Nasdaq, under the symbol “TARA.” On November 2, 2023, the last reported sale price of our common stock was $1.22 per share. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to any other listing on Nasdaq or any securities market or other exchange of the securities, if any, covered by the prospectus supplement.

 

As of June 30, 2023, the aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates, or public float, was approximately $17.96 million, based on 11,307,962 shares of outstanding common stock, of which approximately 3.79 million shares were held by affiliates, and a price of $2.39 per share, which was the price at which our common stock was last sold on the Nasdaq Capital Market on such date. We have not offered any securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3 during the prior 12-calendar-month period that ends on and includes the date of this prospectus. Pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3, in no event will we sell securities registered on this registration statement in a public primary offering with a value exceeding more than one-third of our public float in any 12-month period so long as our public float remains below $75 million (the “Baby Shelf Limitation”).

 

We will sell these securities directly to investors, through agents designated from time to time or to or through underwriters or dealers, on a continuous or delayed basis. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section titled “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus. If any agents or underwriters are involved in the sale of any securities with respect to which this prospectus is being delivered, the names of such agents or underwriters and any applicable fees, commissions, discounts or over-allotment options will be set forth in a prospectus supplement. The price to the public of such securities and the net proceeds we expect to receive from such sale will also be set forth in a prospectus supplement.

 

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should review carefully the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” on page 5 of this prospectus, any similar section contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus as described on page 30 of this prospectus.

 

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.

 

The date of this prospectus is November 14, 2023.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS	ii
SUMMARY	1
RISK FACTORS	5
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS	6
USE OF PROCEEDS	8
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK	8
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES	15
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS	22
LEGAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES	24
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION	27
VALIDITY OF SECURITIES	29
EXPERTS	29
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION	29
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE	30

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is a part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total aggregate offering price of $300,000,000, subject to the Baby Shelf Limitation. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer.

 

Each time we sell securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in any documents that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should read this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, together with the information incorporated herein by reference as described under the heading “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference,” before investing in any of the securities offered.

 

THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO CONSUMMATE A SALE OF SECURITIES UNLESS IT IS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.

 

Neither we, nor any agent, underwriter or dealer has authorized any person to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. This prospectus, any applicable supplement to this prospectus or any related free writing prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which they relate, nor do this prospectus, any applicable supplement to this prospectus or any related free writing prospectus constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction.

 

You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of the document or that any information we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference, even though this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus is delivered, or securities are sold, on a later date.

 

This prospectus and the information incorporated herein by reference contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

Unless otherwise stated, all references in this prospectus to “we,” “us,” “our,” “Protara,” the “Company” and similar designations refer to Protara Therapeutics, Inc. This prospectus contains references to trademarks belonging to other entities. Solely for convenience, trademarks and trade names referred to in this prospectus, including logos, artwork and other visual displays, may appear without the ® or ™ symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that the applicable licensor will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, its rights to these trademarks and trade names. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trade names or trademarks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully review the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as updated by our annual, quarterly and other reports and documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, before deciding whether to purchase any of the securities being registered pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Each of the risk factors could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, as well as adversely affect the value of an investment in our securities, and the occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial may also significantly impair our business operations.

 

 

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus, including the information incorporated herein by reference, contains, and any prospectus supplement may contain, forward-looking statements. These statements are based on our management’s current beliefs, expectations and assumptions about future events, conditions and results and on information currently available to us. Discussions containing these forward-looking statements may be found, among other places, in the sections titled “Business,” “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” incorporated by reference from our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as any amendments thereto, filed with the SEC.

 

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “design,” “due,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “plan,” “predict,” “positioned,” “potential,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” or the negative or plural of those terms, and similar expressions intended to identify statements about the future, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these statements.

 

Any statements in this prospectus, or incorporated herein by reference, about our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not historical facts and are forward-looking statements. Within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act these forward-looking statements include statements regarding:

 

●

estimates regarding our financial performance, including future revenue, expenses and capital requirements;

 

●

our expected cash position and ability to obtain financing in the future on satisfactory terms or at all;

 

●

expectations regarding our plans to research, develop and commercialize our current and future product candidates, including TARA-002, and Intravenous, or IV, Choline Chloride;

 

●

expectations regarding the safety and efficacy of our product candidates;

 

●

expectations regarding the timing, costs and outcomes of our planned clinical trials;

 

●

expectations regarding potential market size;

 

●

expectations regarding the timing of the availability of data from our clinical trials;

 

●

expectations regarding the clinical utility, potential benefits and market acceptance of our product candidates;

 

●

expectations regarding our commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities and strategy;

 

●

the implementation of our business model, strategic plans for our business, product candidates and technology;

 

●

expectations regarding our ability to identify additional products or product candidates with significant commercial potential;

 

 

●

developments and projections relating to our competitors and industry;

 

●

our ability to acquire, license and invest in businesses, technologies, product candidates and products;

 

●

our ability to remain listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, or Nasdaq;

 

●

the impact of government laws and regulations;

 

●

costs and outcomes relating to any disputes, governmental inquiries or investigations, regulatory proceedings, legal proceedings or litigation;

 

●

our ability to attract and retain key personnel to manage our business effectively;

 

●

our ability to prevent system failures, data breaches or violations of data protection laws;

 

●

the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals;

 

●

our ability to protect our intellectual property position; and

 

●

the impact of general U.S., foreign and global economic, industry, market, regulatory, political or public health conditions.

 

You should refer to the “Risk Factors” section contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, for a discussion of important factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. Given these risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this prospectus will prove to be accurate, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Furthermore, if our forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by us or any other person that we will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all.

 

Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or developments occurring after the date of this prospectus, even if new information becomes available in the future.

 

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We will retain broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered hereby. Except as described in any applicable prospectus supplement or in any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you in connection with a specific offering, we currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered hereby, if any, for general corporate purposes, including research and development expenses, general and administrative expenses, sales and marketing expenses, capital expenditures, which may include costs of funding future license agreements, acquisitions, and working capital or for any other purpose we describe in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus our intended use for the net proceeds received from the sale of any securities sold pursuant to the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. Pending the use of net proceeds, we plan to invest the net proceeds in short- and intermediate-term interest-bearing obligations, investment-grade securities, certificates of deposit or government securities.

 

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

 

The following summary description of our capital stock is based on the provisions of our sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended from time to time, our second amended and restated bylaws, our certificate of designation of preferences, rights and limitations of Series 1 Convertible Non-Voting Preferred Stock, as amended from time to time, and the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law. This information is qualified entirely by reference to the applicable provisions of our sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended from time to time, our second amended and restated bylaws, our certificate of designation of preferences, rights and limitations of Series 1 Convertible Non-Voting Preferred Stock, as amended from time to time, and the Delaware General Corporation Law. For information on how to obtain copies of our sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended from time to time, our second amended and restated bylaws, our certificate of designation of preferences, rights and limitations of Series 1 Convertible Non-Voting Preferred Stock, as amended from time to time, each of which are exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, see “Where You Can Find Additional Information.” We refer in this section to our sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended from time to time, and our second amended and restated bylaws as our “certificate of incorporation” and our “bylaws”, respectively.

 

General

 

Our authorized capital stock consists of 110,000,000 shares, all with a par value of $0.001 per share, of which 100,000,000 shares are designated as common stock and 10,000,000 shares are designated as preferred stock. As of November 2, 2023, we had 11,364,903 shares of common stock and 7,991 shares of Series 1 Preferred Stock outstanding.

 

Common Stock

 

Voting Rights

 

Each holder of our common stock is entitled to one vote for each share on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, including the election of directors. Our stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. An election of directors by our stockholders shall be determined by a plurality of votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote on the election.

 

Dividends

 

Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then outstanding preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the board of directors out of legally available funds.

 

Liquidation

 

In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably in the net assets legally available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of all of our debts and other liabilities and the satisfaction of any liquidation preference granted to the holders of any then outstanding shares of preferred stock.

 

 

Rights and Preferences

 

Holders of common stock have no preemptive, conversion or subscription rights and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that we may designate in the future.

 

Preferred Stock

 

Under our certificate of incorporation, our board of directors has the authority, without further action by stockholders, to designate up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix or alter, from time to time, the powers, designations, preferences, and relative, participating, optional, or other special rights, if any, and such qualifications and restrictions, if any, of any series of preferred stock, including dividend rights, dividend rate, conversion rights, voting rights, rights and terms of redemption (including sinking fund provisions), redemption price or prices, and the liquidation preference of any wholly unissued series of preferred stock, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of the common stock, and to establish the number of shares constituting any such series. Our board of directors has designated 8,028 shares of preferred stock as Series 1 Preferred Stock.

 

Our board of directors will fix the rights, preferences, privileges, qualifications and restrictions of the preferred stock of each series that we sell under this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplements in the certificate of designation relating to each such series. We will incorporate by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or as an exhibit to one or more Current Reports on Form 8-K, the form of any certificate of designation that describes the terms of the series of preferred stock we are offering before the issuance of the related series of preferred stock. This description will include:

 

●

the title and stated value;

 

●

the number of shares we are offering;

 

●

the liquidation preference per share;

 

●

the purchase price per share;

 

●

the dividend rate per share, dividend period, payment date or dates and method of calculation for dividends;

 

●

whether dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends will accumulate;

 

●

our right, if any, to defer payment of dividends and the maximum length of any such deferral period;

 

●

the procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any;

 

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the provisions for a sinking fund, if any;

 

●

the provisions for redemption or repurchase, if applicable, and any restrictions on our ability to exercise those redemption and repurchase rights;

 

●

any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange or market;

 

●

whether the preferred stock will be convertible into our common stock or other securities of ours, including warrants, and, if applicable, the conversion price, or how it will be calculated, and under what circumstances and the mechanism by which it may be adjusted, and the conversion period;

 

●

whether the preferred stock will be exchangeable into debt securities or other securities of ours, and, if applicable, the exchange price, or how it will be calculated, and under what circumstances it may be adjusted, and the exchange period;

 

 

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voting rights, if any;

 

●

preemptive rights, if any;

 

●

restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment, if any;

 

●

whether interests in the preferred stock will be represented by depositary shares;

 

●

a discussion of any material or special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred stock;

 

●

the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs;

 

●

any limitations on issuances of any class or series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on parity with the series of preferred stock being issued as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs; and

 

●

any other specific terms, rights, preferences, privileges, qualifications or limitations of, or restrictions on the preferred stock.

 

If we issue and sell shares of preferred stock pursuant to this prospectus, together with any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, the shares will be fully paid and non-assessable.

 

The laws of the state of Delaware, the state of our incorporation, provide that the holders of preferred stock will have the right to vote separately, as a class, on any proposal involving fundamental changes in the rights of holders of such preferred stock. This right is in addition to any voting rights that may be provided for in the applicable certificate of designation.

 

The issuance of preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power, conversion or other rights of holders of common stock and reduce the likelihood that common stockholders will receive dividend payments and payments upon liquidation. Preferred stock could be issued quickly with terms designed to delay, deter or prevent a change in control of our company or make removal of management more difficult. Additionally, the issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of decreasing the market price of our common stock.

 

Series 1 Convertible Non-Voting Preferred Stock

 

September 2019 Offering

 

On September 23, 2019, we entered into a subscription agreement, or the Subscription Agreement, with certain institutional investors, or the Purchasers, providing for the issuance and sale of 1,896,888 shares of common stock and 3,879,356 shares of Series 1 Preferred Stock for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $40.5 million. The Subscription Agreement was subsequently amended by a First Amendment to Subscription Agreement on November 19, 2019.

 

Each share of Series 1 Preferred Stock is convertible, at any time at the option of the holder thereof, a conversion rate equal to the stated value of $7,011.47 per share divided by an initial conversion price of $7.01 per share, subject to adjustment for any stock splits, stock dividends and similar events, and further subject to a 9.99% blocker provision. Upon written notice to us, the holder may from time to time increase or decrease such limitation to any other percentage not in excess of 19.99% specified in such notice. Each share of Series 1 Preferred Stock is entitled to a preference of $10.00 per share upon liquidation of the Company, and thereafter will share ratably in any distributions or payments on an as-converted basis with the holders of common stock. In addition, upon the occurrence of certain transactions that involve the merger or consolidation of the Company, an exchange or tender offer, a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or a reclassification of its common stock, each share of Series 1 Preferred Stock will be convertible into the kind and amount of securities, cash and/or other property that the holder of a number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of one share of Series 1 Preferred Stock would receive in connection with such transaction. Except as provided in the Certificate of Designation or as required by law, the shares of Series 1 Preferred Stock have no voting rights.

 

 

Pursuant to the Subscription Agreement, certain holders of Series 1 Preferred Stock have preemptive rights to participate pro rata in future equity financings of the Company, subject to certain exceptions and limitations. In addition, the lead Purchaser has the right (but not the obligation) to appoint up to two directors to our board of directors and one other Purchaser has the right (but not the obligation) to appoint one director to our board of directors, in each case subject to requirements related to holding minimum amounts of our equity securities. In addition, at any time when it does not have a designee serving on the board of directors, each of these Purchasers has a right to designate an individual to be present and participate in a non-voting capacity in all meetings of our board of directors and committees of the board. Further, we have also agreed not to take certain actions related to the business without the consent of the lead Purchaser for so long as such lead Purchaser continues to hold a minimum amount of the Series 1 Preferred Stock purchased under the Subscription Agreement. These actions include (a) liquidating, dissolving or winding-up the affairs of the Company; (b) any merger, consolidation or other Fundamental Transaction (defined in the Subscription Agreement); (c) amendments to our certificate of incorporation or bylaws in a manner that adversely effects the Series 1 Preferred Stock and that is disproportionate to the effect on any other class or series of capital stock; (d) material changes to the principal business of the Company; (e) purchases, redemptions or the payment of dividends on any capital stock (subject to certain exceptions); (f) the sale, assignment, license or pledge of TARA-002; and (g) transactions involving assets of the Company with an aggregate value over $2.5 million.

 

Concurrently with the execution of the Subscription Agreement, we entered into a registration rights agreement, or the Registration Rights Agreement, dated September 23, 2019, with the Purchasers. Pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, we prepared and filed a registration statement on Form S-3 on January 30, 2020 for the purposes of registering the resale of the shares of common stock issued pursuant to the Subscription Agreement and the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series 1 Preferred Stock issued pursuant to the Subscription Agreement. Additionally, pursuant to the Subscription Agreement, if at any time after 180 days following the date of closing of the issuance and sale of Series 1 Preferred Stock and common stock pursuant to the Subscription Agreement, either the lead Purchaser or another Purchaser determines that it may be deemed to be an “affiliate” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 144 of the Securities Act, we shall enter into a registration rights agreement with such Purchaser requiring us to file a registration statement on Form S-3 pursuant to a demand by such Purchaser in connection with the resale of such Purchaser’s shares of common stock.

 

The preceding summaries do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Certificate of Designation for the Series 1 Preferred Stock, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Subscription Agreement, as applicable, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibits 3.5, 4.5 and 10.1, respectively, and which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

September 2020 Offering

 

On September 24, 2020, we issued and sold in an underwritten public offering an additional 4,148 shares of our Series 1 Preferred Stock at an offering price of $16,873.54 per share, for gross and net proceeds of approximately $70.0 million and $66.3 million, respectively.

 

Delaware Anti-Takeover Law and Provisions of Our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and Bylaws, as amended

 

Our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws contain certain provisions that could have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing another party from acquiring control of us, and therefore could adversely affect the market price of our common stock. These provisions and certain provisions of Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL, which are summarized below, may also discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids, and are designed, in part, to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to negotiate first with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate more favorable terms with an unfriendly or unsolicited acquirer outweigh the disadvantages of potentially discouraging a proposal to acquire us.

 

 

Delaware Anti-Takeover Law

 

We are subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, or Section 203. Section 203 generally prohibits a public Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

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prior to such time the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;

 

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upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested 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 voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned (i) by persons who are directors and also officers and (ii) 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

 

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at or subsequent to such time the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder.

 

Section 203 defines a business combination to include:

 

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any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder;

 

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any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition involving the interested stockholder of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation;

 

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subject to exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder;

 

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subject to exceptions, any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; and

 

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the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation.

 

In general, Section 203 defines an interested stockholder as any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by the entity or person.

 

 

Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

 

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain certain provisions that are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of the board of directors and which may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a future takeover or change in control unless such takeover or change in control is approved by the board of directors. In addition, the authorization of undesignated preferred stock makes it possible for our board of directors to issue preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt to change our control. These provisions include:

 

Classified board of directors

 

Our certificate of incorporation provides that the board of directors is divided into three classes of directors, with the classes as nearly equal in number as possible. Any additional directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors will be apportioned by the board of directors among the three classes. The classification of directors will have the effect of making it more difficult for stockholders to change the composition of the board of directors.

 

Our certificate of incorporation provides that, subject to any rights of holders of preferred stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors will be fixed exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by the board of directors. Any additional directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors will be distributed among the three classes so that, as nearly as possible, each class shall consist of one third of the board of directors.

 

Action by Written Consent; Special Meetings of Stockholders

 

Our certificate of incorporation provides that stockholder action can be taken only at an annual or special meeting of stockholders and cannot be taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws also provide that, except as otherwise required by law, special meetings of the stockholders can be called only by or at the direction of the board of directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors. Except as described above, stockholders will not be permitted to call a special meeting or to require the board of directors to call a special meeting.

 

Removal of Directors

 

Our certificate of incorporation provides that our directors may be removed only for cause by the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the voting power of our outstanding shares of capital stock, voting together as a single class and entitled to vote in the election of directors. This requirement of a supermajority vote to remove directors could enable a minority of our stockholders to prevent a change in the composition of the board of directors.

 

Advance Notice Procedures

 

Our bylaws include 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. Stockholders at an annual meeting will only be able to 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 or by a stockholder 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 our Secretary timely written notice, in proper form, of the stockholder’s intention to bring that business before the meeting. Although the 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, the bylaws may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the proper procedures are not followed or may discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us.

 

 

Super Majority Approval Requirements

 

The Delaware General Corporation Law generally provides that the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on any matter is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, unless either a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws requires a greater percentage. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that the affirmative vote of holders of at least 75% of the outstanding shares of capital stock, voting together as a single class and entitled to vote in the election of directors will be required to amend, alter, change or repeal the bylaws and certain portions of the certificate of incorporation. This requirement of a supermajority vote to approve amendments to our bylaws could enable a minority of our stockholders to exercise veto power over any such amendments.

 

Authorized but Unissued Shares

 

Our authorized but unissued shares of common stock will be available for future issuance without stockholder approval. These additional shares may be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, corporate acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of common stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of a majority of our common stock by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

 

Exclusive Forum

 

Our certificate of incorporation provides that, subject to limited exceptions, the state or federal courts located in the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our certificate of incorporation or our bylaws, or (iv) any other action asserting a claim against our that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine; provided, that these provisions will not apply to actions or proceedings brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of our certificate of incorporation described above. Although we believe these provisions benefit us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law for the specified types of actions and proceedings, the provisions may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers. The enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ certificates of incorporation has been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that, in connection with one or more actions or proceedings described above, a court could find the choice of forum provisions contained in our certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

 

Listing

 

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “TARA.”

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

 

We may issue debt securities from time to time, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any debt securities offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. Unless the context requires otherwise, whenever we refer to the indenture, we also are referring to any supplemental indentures that specify the terms of a particular series of debt securities.

 

We will issue the debt securities under the indenture that we will enter into with the trustee named in the indenture. The indenture will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act. We have filed the form of indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and supplemental indentures and forms of debt securities containing the terms of the debt securities being offered will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will be incorporated by reference from, reports that we file with the SEC.

 

The following summary of material provisions of the debt securities and the indenture is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indenture applicable to a particular series of debt securities. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements and any related free writing prospectuses related to the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as the complete indenture that contains the terms of the debt securities.

 

General

 

The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. It provides that we may issue debt securities up to the principal amount that we may authorize and may be in any currency or currency unit that we may designate. Except for the limitations on consolidation, merger and sale of all or substantially all of our assets contained in the indenture, the terms of the indenture do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to give holders of any debt securities protection against changes in our operations, financial condition or transactions involving us.

 

We may issue the debt securities issued under the indenture as “discount securities,” which means they may be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. These debt securities, as well as other debt securities that are not issued at a discount, may be issued with “original issue discount,” or OID, for U.S. federal income tax purposes because of interest payment and other characteristics or terms of the debt securities. Material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued with OID will be described in more detail in any applicable prospectus supplement.

 

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of debt securities being offered, including:

 

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the title of the series of debt securities;

 

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any limit upon the aggregate principal amount that may be issued;

 

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the maturity date or dates;

 

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the form of the debt securities of the series;

 

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the applicability of any guarantees;

 

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whether or not the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt;

 

 

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whether the debt securities rank as senior debt, senior subordinated debt, subordinated debt or any combination thereof, and the terms of any subordination;

 

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if the price (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at which such debt securities will be issued is a price other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount thereof payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof, or if applicable, the portion of the principal amount of such debt securities that is convertible into another security or the method by which any such portion shall be determined;

 

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the interest rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate and the date interest will begin to accrue, the dates interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates;

 

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our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period;

 

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if applicable, the date or dates after which, or the period or periods during which, and the price or prices at which, we may, at our option, redeem the series of debt securities pursuant to any optional or provisional redemption provisions and the terms of those redemption provisions;

 

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the date or dates, if any, on which, and the price or prices at which we are obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund or analogous fund provisions or otherwise, to redeem, or at the holder’s option to purchase, the series of debt securities and the currency or currency unit in which the debt securities are payable;

 

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the denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof;

 

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any and all terms, if applicable, relating to any auction or remarketing of the debt securities of that series and any security for our obligations with respect to such debt securities and any other terms which may be advisable in connection with the marketing of debt securities of that series;

 

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whether the debt securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a global security or securities; the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such global security or securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual securities; and the depositary for such global security or securities;

 

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if applicable, the provisions relating to conversion or exchange of any debt securities of the series and the terms and conditions upon which such debt securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including the conversion or exchange price, as applicable, or how it will be calculated and may be adjusted, any mandatory or optional (at our option or the holders’ option) conversion or exchange features, the applicable conversion or exchange period and the manner of settlement for any conversion or exchange;

 

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if other than the full principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of debt securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof;

 

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additions to or changes in the covenants applicable to the particular debt securities being issued, including, among others, the consolidation, merger or sale covenant;

 

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additions to or changes in the events of default with respect to the securities and any change in the right of the trustee or the holders to declare the principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, with respect to such securities to be due and payable;

 

 

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additions to or changes in or deletions of the provisions relating to covenant defeasance and legal defeasance;

 

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additions to or changes in the provisions relating to satisfaction and discharge of the indenture;

 

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additions to or changes in the provisions relating to the modification of the indenture both with and without the consent of holders of debt securities issued under the indenture;

 

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the currency of payment of debt securities if other than U.S. dollars and the manner of determining the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars;

 

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whether interest will be payable in cash or additional debt securities at our or the holders’ option and the terms and conditions upon which the election may be made;

 

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the terms and conditions, if any, upon which we will pay amounts in addition to the stated interest, premium, if any and principal amounts of the debt securities of the series to any holder that is not a “United States person” for federal tax purposes;

 

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any restrictions on transfer, sale or assignment of the debt securities of the series; and

 

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any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities, any other additions or changes in the provisions of the indenture, and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations.

 

Conversion or Exchange Rights

 

We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock or our other securities. We will include provisions as to settlement upon conversion or exchange and whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. We may include provisions pursuant to which the number of shares of our common stock or our other securities that the holders of the series of debt securities receive would be subject to adjustment.

 

Consolidation, Merger or Sale

 

Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the indenture will not contain any covenant that restricts our ability to merge or consolidate, or sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of our assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety. However, any successor to or acquirer of such assets (other than any subsidiary of ours) must assume all of our obligations under the indenture or the debt securities, as appropriate.

 

Events of Default under the Indenture

 

Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the following are events of default under the indenture with respect to any series of debt securities that we may issue:

 

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if we fail to pay any installment of interest on any series of debt securities, as and when the same shall become due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 90 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of an interest payment period by us in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental thereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose;

 

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if we fail to pay the principal of, or premium, if any, on any series of debt securities as and when the same shall become due and payable whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to such series; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such debt securities in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental thereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any;

 

 

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if we fail to observe or perform any other covenant or agreement contained in the debt securities or the indenture, other than a covenant specifically relating to another series of debt securities, and our failure continues for 90 days after we receive written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied and stating that such is a notice of default thereunder, from the trustee or holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series; and

 

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if specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur.

 

If an event of default with respect to debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, other than an event of default specified in the last bullet point above, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, by notice to us in writing, and to the trustee if notice is given by such holders, may declare the unpaid principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, due and payable immediately. If an event of default specified in the last bullet point above occurs with respect to us, the principal amount of and accrued interest, if any, of each issue of debt securities then outstanding shall be due and payable without any notice or other action on the part of the trustee or any holder.

 

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of an affected series may waive any default or event of default with respect to the series and its consequences, except defaults or events of default regarding payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, unless we have cured the default or event of default in accordance with the indenture. Any waiver shall cure the default or event of default.

 

Subject to the terms of the indenture, if an event of default under an indenture shall occur and be continuing, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under such indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the applicable series of debt securities, unless such holders have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity. The holders of a majority in 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, with respect to the debt securities of that series, provided that:

 

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the direction so given by the holder is not in conflict with any law or the applicable indenture; and

 

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subject to its duties under the Trust Indenture Act, the trustee need not take any action that might involve it in personal liability or might be unduly prejudicial to the holders not involved in the proceeding.

 

A holder of the debt securities of any series will have the right to institute a proceeding under the indenture or to appoint a receiver or trustee, or to seek other remedies only if:

 

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the holder has given written notice to the trustee of a continuing event of default with respect to that series;

 

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the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request;

 

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such holders have offered to the trustee indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred by the trustee in compliance with the request; and

 

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the trustee does not institute the proceeding, and does not receive from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series other conflicting directions within 90 days after the notice, request and offer.

 

 

These limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of debt securities if we default in the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities.

 

We will periodically file statements with the trustee regarding our compliance with specified covenants in the indenture.

 

Modification of Indenture; Waiver

 

We and the trustee may change an indenture without the consent of any holders with respect to specific matters:

 

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to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture or in the debt securities of any series;

 

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to comply with the provisions described above under “Description of Debt Securities—Consolidation, Merger or Sale;”

 

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to provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities;

 

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to add to our covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions such new covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of debt securities, to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and the continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an event of default or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us in the indenture;

 

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to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations, and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of debt securities, as set forth in the indenture;

 

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to make any change that does not adversely affect the interests of any holder of debt securities of any series in any material respect;

 

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to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the debt securities of any series as provided above under “Description of Debt Securities—General” to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of the indenture or any series of debt securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of debt securities;

 

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to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment under any indenture by a successor trustee; or

 

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to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of any indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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In addition, under the indenture, the rights of holders of a series of debt securities may be changed by us and the trustee with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series that is affected. However, unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, we and the trustee may make the following changes only with the consent of each holder of any outstanding debt securities affected:

 

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extending the fixed maturity of any debt securities of any series;

 

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reducing the principal amount, reducing the rate of or extending the time of payment of interest, or reducing any premium payable upon the redemption of any series of any debt securities; or

 

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reducing the percentage of debt securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any amendment, supplement, modification or waiver.

 

 

Discharge

 

Each indenture provides that we can elect to be discharged from our obligations with respect to one or more series of debt securities, except for specified obligations, including obligations to:

 

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provide for payment;

 

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register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of the series;

 

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replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of the series;

 

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pay principal of and premium and interest on any debt securities of the series;

 

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maintain paying agencies;

 

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hold monies for payment in trust;

 

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recover excess money held by the trustee;

 

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compensate and indemnify the trustee; and

 

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appoint any successor trustee.

 

In order to exercise our rights to be discharged, we must deposit with the trustee money or government obligations sufficient to pay all the principal of, any premium, if any, and interest on, the debt securities of the series on the dates payments are due.

 

Form, Exchange and Transfer

 

We will issue the debt securities of each series only in fully registered form without coupons and, unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The indenture provides that we may issue debt securities of a series in temporary or permanent global form and as book-entry securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, or another depositary named by us and identified in the applicable prospectus supplement with respect to that series. To the extent the debt securities of a series are issued in global form and as book-entry, a description of terms relating to any book-entry securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

At the option of the holder, subject to the terms of the indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the holder of the debt securities of any series can exchange the debt securities for other debt securities of the same series, in any authorized denomination and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.

 

Subject to the terms of the indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the debt securities may present the debt securities for exchange or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed if so required by us or the security registrar, at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for this purpose. Unless otherwise provided in the debt securities that the holder presents for transfer or exchange, we will impose no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange, but we may require payment of any taxes or other governmental charges.

 

 

We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement the security registrar, and any transfer agent in addition to the security registrar, that we initially designate for any debt securities. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of each series.

 

If we elect to redeem the debt securities of any series, we will not be required to:

 

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issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any debt securities of that series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any debt securities that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing; or

 

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register the transfer of or exchange any debt securities so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any debt securities we are redeeming in part.

 

Information Concerning the Trustee

 

The trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of an event of default under an indenture, undertakes to perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in the applicable indenture. Upon an event of default under an indenture, the trustee must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given it by the indenture at the request of any holder of debt securities unless it is offered reasonable security and indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur.

 

Payment and Paying Agents

 

Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make payment of the interest on any debt securities on any interest payment date to the person in whose name the debt securities, or one or more predecessor securities, are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for the interest.

 

We will pay principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities of a particular series at the office of the paying agents designated by us, except that unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make interest payments by check that we will mail to the holder or by wire transfer to certain holders. Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will designate the corporate trust office of the trustee as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement any other paying agents that we initially designate for the debt securities of a particular series. We will maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.

 

All money we pay to a paying agent or the trustee for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of the debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.

 

Governing Law

 

The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act is applicable.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

 

The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplements and free writing prospectuses, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, which may consist of warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock or debt securities and may be issued in one or more series. Warrants may be issued independently or together with common stock, preferred stock or debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement, and may be attached to or separate from those securities. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of warrants that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus. The terms of any warrants offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. However, no prospectus supplement will fundamentally change the terms that are set forth in this prospectus or offer a security that is not registered and described in this prospectus at the time of its effectiveness.

 

We have filed forms of the warrant agreements as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of warrant agreement, if any, including a form of warrant certificate, that describes the terms of the particular series of warrants we are offering. The following summaries of material provisions of the warrants and the warrant agreements are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the warrant agreement and warrant certificate applicable to the particular series of warrants that we may offer under this prospectus. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements related to the particular series of warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as any related free writing prospectuses, and the complete warrant agreements and warrant certificates that contain the terms of the warrants.

 

General

 

In the applicable prospectus supplement, we will describe the terms of the series of warrants being offered, including, to the extent applicable:

 

●

the title of such securities;

 

●

the offering price or prices and aggregate number of warrants offered;

 

●

the currency or currencies for which the warrants may be purchased;

 

●

the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security or each principal amount of such security;

 

●

the date on and after which the warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;

 

●

the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants which may be exercised at any one time;

 

●

in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of one warrant and the price at which, and currency in which, this principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise;

 

●

in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, purchasable upon the exercise of one warrant and the price at which, and the currency in which, these shares may be purchased upon such exercise;

 

 

●

the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business on the warrant agreements and the warrants;

 

●

the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants;

 

●

the terms of any rights to force the exercise of the warrants;

 

●

any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants;

 

●

the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire;

 

●

the manner in which the warrant agreements and warrants may be modified;

 

●

a discussion of any material or special U.S. federal income tax considerations of holding or exercising the warrants;

 

●

the terms of the securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants; and

 

●

any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of or restrictions on the warrants.

 

Before exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including:

 

●

in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the right to receive dividends, if any, or payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise voting rights, if any; or

 

●

in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the right to receive payments of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities purchasable upon exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture.

 

Exercise of Warrants

 

Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase the securities that we specify in the applicable prospectus supplement at the exercise price that we describe in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants at any time up to the specified time on the expiration date that we set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.

 

Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants by delivering the warrant certificate representing the warrants to be exercised together with specified information, and paying the required amount to the warrant agent in immediately available funds, as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will set forth on the reverse side of the warrant certificate and in the applicable prospectus supplement the information that the holder of the warrant will be required to deliver to the warrant agent in connection with the exercise of the warrant.

 

On receipt of payment and the warrant or warrant certificate, as applicable, properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent, if any, or any other office, including ours, indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, issue and deliver the securities purchasable on such exercise. If less than all of the warrants (or the warrants represented by such warrant certificate) are exercised, a new warrant or a new warrant certificate, as applicable, will be issued for the remaining warrants.

 

Governing Law

 

Unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the warrants and warrant agreements, and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to the warrants or warrant agreements, will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Warrants

 

Each warrant agent, if any, will act solely as our agent under the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any warrant. A single bank or trust company may act as warrant agent for more than one issue of warrants. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or warrant, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agent or the holder of any other warrant, enforce by appropriate legal action its right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of, its warrants.

 

 

LEGAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

 

We can issue securities in registered form or in the form of one or more global securities. We describe global securities in greater detail below. We refer to those persons who have securities registered in their own names on the books that we or any applicable trustee or depositary maintain for this purpose as the “holders” of those securities. These persons are the legal holders of the securities. We refer to those persons who, indirectly through others, own beneficial interests in securities that are not registered in their own names, as “indirect holders” of those securities. As we discuss below, indirect holders are not legal holders, and investors in securities issued in book-entry form or in street name will be indirect holders.

 

Book-Entry Holders

 

We may issue securities in book-entry form only, as we will specify in the applicable prospectus supplement. This means securities may be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of a financial institution that holds them as depositary on behalf of other financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system. These participating institutions, which are referred to as participants, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the securities on behalf of themselves or their customers.

 

Only the person in whose name a security is registered is recognized as the holder of that security. Global securities will be registered in the name of the depositary or its participants. Consequently, for global securities, we will recognize only the depositary as the holder of the securities, and we will make all payments on the securities to the depositary. The depositary passes along the payments it receives to its participants, which in turn pass the payments along to their customers who are the beneficial owners. The depositary and its participants do so under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the securities.

 

As a result, investors in a global security will not own securities directly. Instead, they will own beneficial interests in a global security, through a bank, broker or other financial institution that participates in the depositary’s book-entry system or holds an interest through a participant. As long as the securities are issued in global form, investors will be indirect holders, and not legal holders, of the securities.

 

Street Name Holders

 

We may terminate a global security or issue securities that are not issued in global form. In these cases, investors may choose to hold their securities in their own names or in “street name.” Securities held by an investor in street name would be registered in the name of a bank, broker or other financial institution that the investor chooses, and the investor would hold only a beneficial interest in those securities through an account he or she maintains at that institution.

 

For securities held in street name, we or any applicable trustee or depositary will recognize only the intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions in whose names the securities are registered as the holders of those securities, and we or any such trustee or depositary will make all payments on those securities to them. These institutions pass along the payments they receive to their customers who are the beneficial owners, but only because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to do so. Investors who hold securities in street name will be indirect holders, not holders, of those securities.

 

Legal Holders

 

Our obligations, as well as the obligations of any applicable trustee or third party employed by us or a trustee, run only to the legal holders of the securities. We do not have obligations to investors who hold beneficial interests in global securities, in street name or by any other indirect means. This will be the case whether an investor chooses to be an indirect holder of a security or has no choice because we are issuing the securities only in global form.

 

 

For example, once we make a payment or give a notice to the legal holder, we have no further responsibility for the payment or notice even if that legal holder is required, under agreements with its participants or customers or by law, to pass it along to the indirect holders but does not do so. Similarly, we may want to obtain the approval of the holders to amend an indenture, to relieve us of the consequences of a default or of our obligation to comply with a particular provision of an indenture, or for other purposes. In such an event, we would seek approval only from the legal holder, and not the indirect holders, of the securities. Whether and how the legal holders contact the indirect holders is up to the legal holders.

 

Special Considerations for Indirect Holders

 

If you hold securities through a bank, broker or other financial institution, either in book-entry form because the securities are represented by one or more global securities or in street name, you should check with your own institution to find out:

 

●

how it handles securities payments and notices;

 

●

whether it imposes fees or charges;

 

●

how it would handle a request for the holders’ consent, if ever required;

 

●

whether and how you can instruct it to send you securities registered in your own name so you can be a holder, if that is permitted in the future;

 

●

how it would exercise rights under the securities if there were a default or other event triggering the need for holders to act to protect their interests; and

 

●

if the securities are in book-entry form, how the depositary’s rules and procedures will affect these matters.

 

Global Securities

 

A global security is a security that represents one or any other number of individual securities held by a depositary. Generally, all securities represented by the same global securities will have the same terms.

 

Each security issued in book-entry form will be represented by a global security that we issue to, deposit with and register in the name of a financial institution or its nominee that we select. The financial institution that we select for this purpose is called the depositary. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, DTC, New York, New York, will be the depositary for all securities issued in book-entry form.

 

A global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other than the depositary, its nominee or a successor depositary, unless special termination situations arise. We describe those situations below under “—Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated.” As a result of these arrangements, the depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and legal holder of all securities represented by a global security, and investors will be permitted to own only beneficial interests in a global security. Beneficial interests must be held by means of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary or with another institution that does. Thus, an investor whose security is represented by a global security will not be a legal holder of the security, but only an indirect holder of a beneficial interest in the global security.

 

If the prospectus supplement for a particular security indicates that the security will be issued as a global security, then the security will be represented by a global security at all times unless and until the global security is terminated. If termination occurs, we may issue the securities through another book-entry clearing system or decide that the securities may no longer be held through any book-entry clearing system.

 

 

Special Considerations for Global Securities

 

As an indirect holder, an investor’s rights relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the investor’s financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize an indirect holder as a holder of securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.

 

If securities are issued only as global securities, an investor should be aware of the following:

 

●

an investor cannot cause the securities to be registered in his or her name, and cannot obtain non-global certificates for his or her interest in the securities, except in the special situations we describe below;

 

●

an investor will be an indirect holder and must look to his or her own bank or broker for payments on the securities and protection of his or her legal rights relating to the securities, as we describe above;

 

●

an investor may not be able to sell interests in the securities to some insurance companies and to other institutions that are required by law to own their securities in non-book-entry form;

 

●

an investor may not be able to pledge his or her interest in the global security in circumstances where certificates representing the securities must be delivered to the lender or other beneficiary of the pledge in order for the pledge to be effective;

 

●

the depositary’s policies, which may change from time to time, will govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to an investor’s interest in the global security;

 

●

we and any applicable trustee have no responsibility for any aspect of the depositary’s actions or for its records of ownership interests in the global security, nor will we or any applicable trustee supervise the depositary in any way;

 

●

the depositary may, and we understand that DTC will, require that those who purchase and sell interests in the global security within its book-entry system use immediately available funds, and your broker or bank may require you to do so as well; and

 

●

financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system, and through which an investor holds its interest in the global security, may also have their own policies affecting payments, notices and other matters relating to the securities.

 

There may be more than one financial intermediary in the chain of ownership for an investor. We do not monitor and are not responsible for the actions of any of those intermediaries.

 

Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated

 

In a few special situations described below, a global security will terminate and interests in it will be exchanged for physical certificates representing those interests. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold securities directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own banks or brokers to find out how to have their interests in securities transferred to their own names, so that they will be direct holders. We have described the rights of holders and street name investors above.

 

Unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the global security will terminate when the following special situations occur:

 

●

if the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualified to continue as depositary for that global security and we do not appoint another institution to act as depositary within 90 days;

 

●

if we notify any applicable trustee that we wish to terminate that global security; or

 

●

if an event of default has occurred with regard to securities represented by that global security and has not been cured or waived.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement may also list additional situations for terminating a global security that would apply only to the particular series of securities covered by the prospectus supplement. When a global security terminates, the depositary, and neither we nor any applicable trustee, is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions that will be the initial direct holders.

 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We may sell the securities from time to time pursuant to underwritten public offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades or a combination of these methods. We may sell the securities to or through underwriters or dealers, through agents or directly to one or more purchasers. We may distribute securities from time to time in one or more transactions:

 

●

at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;

 

●

at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

 

●

at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or

 

●

at negotiated prices.

 

We may also sell equity securities covered by this registration statement in an “at the market” offering as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act.

 

Such offering may be made into an existing trading market for such securities in transactions at other than a fixed price, either:

 

●

on or through the facilities of Nasdaq or any other securities exchange or quotation or trading service on which such securities may be listed, quoted or traded at the time of sale; and/or

 

●

to or through a market maker other than on Nasdaq or such other securities exchanges or quotation or trading services.

 

Such “at the market” offerings, if any, may be conducted by underwriters acting as principal or agent.

 

A prospectus supplement or supplements (and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) will describe the terms of the offering of the securities, including, to the extent applicable:

 

●

the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, if any;

 

●

the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds we will receive from the sale;

 

●

any over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us;

 

●

any agency fees or underwriting discounts and other items constituting agents’ or underwriters’ compensation;

 

●

any public offering price;

 

●

any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and

 

●

any securities exchange or market on which the securities may be listed.

 

Only underwriters named in the prospectus supplement are underwriters of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement.

 

 

If underwriters are used in the sale, they will acquire the securities for their own account and may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable underwriting agreement. We may offer the securities to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. Subject to certain conditions, the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may change from time to time. We may use underwriters with whom we have a material relationship. We will describe in the prospectus supplement, naming the underwriter, the nature of any such relationship.

 

We may sell securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities, and we will describe any commissions we will pay the agent in the prospectus supplement. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, our agent will act on a best-efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

 

We may authorize agents or underwriters to solicit offers by certain types of institutional investors to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. We will describe the conditions to these contracts and the commissions we must pay for solicitation of these contracts in the prospectus supplement.

 

We may provide agents and underwriters with indemnification against civil liabilities related to this offering, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribution with respect to payments that the agents or underwriters may make with respect to these liabilities. Agents and underwriters may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.

 

All securities we offer, other than common stock, will be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters may make a market in these securities, but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We cannot guarantee the liquidity of the trading markets for any securities.

 

Any underwriter may engage in overallotment, stabilizing transactions, short covering transactions and penalty bids. Overallotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Short covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution is completed to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a stabilizing or covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time. These transactions may be effected on any exchange or over-the-counter market or otherwise.

 

Any underwriters who are qualified market makers on Nasdaq may engage in passive market making transactions in the securities on Nasdaq in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M, during the business day prior to the pricing of the offering, before the commencement of offers or sales of the securities. Passive market makers must comply with applicable volume and price limitations and must be identified as passive market makers. In general, a passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid for such security; if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, however, the passive market maker’s bid must then be lowered when certain purchase limits are exceeded. Passive market making may stabilize the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

 

 

VALIDITY OF SECURITIES

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, certain legal matters in connection with the offering and the validity of the securities offered by this prospectus, and any supplement thereto, will be passed upon by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, New York, New York. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for us or any underwriters, dealers or agents, by counsel that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of Protara Therapeutics, Inc. appearing in Protara Therapeutic, Inc.’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2022, 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 are, and audited financial statements to be included in subsequently filed documents will be, incorporated herein in reliance upon the report of Ernst & Young LLP pertaining to such financial statements (to the extent covered by consents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

This prospectus is part of the registration statement on Form S-3 we filed with the SEC under the Securities Act. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits to the registration statement. For further information with respect to us and the securities we are offering under this prospectus, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed as a part of the registration statement. You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front page of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of the securities offered by this prospectus.

 

We must comply with the informational requirements of the Exchange Act, and we are required to file reports and proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy these reports, proxy statements and other information on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov, which contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers like us that file electronically with the SEC. We maintain a website at www.protaratx.com. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference herein and is not part of this prospectus.

 

Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete, and in each instance we refer you to the copy of the contract or document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference.

 

 

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Information in this prospectus supersedes information incorporated by reference that we filed with the SEC prior to the date of this prospectus, while information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the information in this prospectus. We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus the documents listed below and any future filings made by us with the SEC (other than current reports or portions thereof furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits filed on such form that are related to such items and other portions of documents that are furnished, but not filed, pursuant to applicable rules promulgated by the SEC) that are filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (i) after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement, and (ii) after the effectiveness of the registration statement but prior to the termination of the offering of the securities covered by the applicable prospectus supplement:

 

●

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 8, 2023;

 

●

our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for each of the quarters ended March 31, 2023, June 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023 filed with the SEC on May 4, 2023, August 3, 2023 and November 3, 2023, respectively;

 

●

our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 5, 2023, January 30, 2023 (solely with respect to the information contained therein under Item 5.02), and June 8, 2023; and

 

●

the description of our common stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on October 16, 2014, including any amendments or reports filed for the purposes of updating this description.

 

We will furnish without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any document incorporated by reference. Requests should be addressed to 345 Park Avenue South, Third Floor, New York, New York 10010, Attn: Secretary or may be made telephonically at (646) 844-0337. Copies of these filings are filings are also available, without charge, on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on our website www.protaratx.com as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed electronically with the SEC. The information contained on our website is not part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

 

In accordance with Rule 412 of the Securities Act, any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus shall be deemed modified, superseded or replaced for the purposes of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.

 

 

                Shares of Common Stock

 

and

 

Pre-funded Warrants to Purchase                 Shares of

Common Stock

 

 

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

TD Cowen

Cantor

LifeSci Capital

Oppenheimer & Co.

Scotiabank

 

December    , 2024

 

 

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