PROPOSAL NO. 2: APPROVAL OF THE ISSUANCE OF COMMON STOCK TO CERTAIN INSIDERS UPON EXERCISE OF PRE-FUNDED WARRANTS AND SERIES A WARRANTS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH NASDAQ LISTING RULE 5635(C)
General
In addition to the approvals that we are seeking pursuant to Proposal No. 1, we are also asking stockholders to approve the issuance of shares of our Common Stock upon the exercise of those Pre-Funded Warrants and Series A Warrants sold and issued to certain insiders (discussed in additional detail below) in the Private Placement.
Insiders that Participated in the Private Placement
Werner Cautreels, our Chief Executive Officer and a member of our Board of Directors, purchased 96,348 Class B Units, consisting of Pre-Funded Warrants to purchase 96,348 shares of Common Stock and Series A Warrants to purchase 96,348 shares of Common Stock, as part of the Private Placement for an aggregate purchase price of $491,664.
TPAV also purchased 96,348 Class B Units, consisting of Pre-Funded Warrants to purchase 96,348 shares of Common Stock and Series A Warrants to purchase 96,348 shares of Common Stock, as part of the Private Placement for an aggregate purchase price of $491,664. Nikolay Savchuk, a member of our Board of Directors, serves as the sole manager on the Board of Managers of TPAV and may therefore be deemed to control TPAV. Mr. Savchuk disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities held by TPAV, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.
Reasons for Stockholder Approval
We do not intend for the Private Placement, or any portion of the securities sold and issued to certain insiders in connection therewith, to constitute any form of “equity compensation” arrangement. However, because our Common Stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, we are subject to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c), which deems the issuance of common stock, or securities convertible into or exercisable for common stock, to a Nasdaq-listed company’s officers, directors, employees or consultants in a in a transaction (other than a public offering) at a price less than the market value of such stock, calculated as the consolidated closing bid price for such shares on the trading day immediately prior to entry into the agreement, as equity compensation requiring stockholder approval. Additionally, Nasdaq guidance related to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c) provides that issuances to an entity controlled by an officer, director, employee, or consultant of the Nasdaq listed company may also be considered equity compensation under certain circumstances.
As described in Proposal No. 1, above, the Purchase Agreement, Pre-Funded Warrants and Series A Warrants provide for the sale and/or issuance of securities to the Purchasers at a price that is less than the closing bid price of our Common Stock, as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market, on the trading day immediately prior to the closing date of the Private Placement. Because Nasdaq may deem the sale and issuance of the Pre-Funded Warrants, Series A Warrants and the shares of our Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants and Series A Warrants to Mr. Cautreels and/or TPAV as equity compensation to Messrs. Cautreels and/or Savchuk (due to his position of control over TPAV) under Nasdaq Rule 5635(c), we are seeking approval of such issuances in order to ensure compliance with Nasdaq rules.
Effect of the Proposal
In the event that our stockholders approve this Proposal No. 2 at the Special Meeting, the Pre-Funded Warrants held by Mr. Cautreels and TPAV will become immediately exercisable and the Series A Warrants held by Mr. Cautreels and TPAV will become exercisable on June 30, 2025, in each case subject to beneficial ownership limitations discussed above and receipt of the Requisite Approval, as set forth in Proposal No. 1.
In the event that our stockholders do not approve this Proposal No. 2 at the Special Meeting and it is determined that the sale and issuance of the sale and issuance of the Pre-Funded Warrants, Series A Warrants and/or the shares of our Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants and Series A Warrants to Mr. Cautreels and/or TPAV is treated as equity compensation to Mr. Cautreels and/or TPAV