Risks Related to Our Common Shares
Our common share price has been volatile in recent years, and may continue to be volatile.
The market prices for securities of biopharmaceutical companies, including ours, have historically been volatile. In the nine months ended September 30, 2021, our common shares traded on the Nasdaq at a high of $17.88 and a low of $5.80 per share and on the TSX at a high of CDN $22.79 and a low of CDN $7.48 per share. In the year ended December 31, 2020, our common shares traded on the Nasdaq at a high of $20.96 and a low of $1.05 per share and on the TSX at a high of CDN $27.12 and a low of CDN $1.37 per share. A number of factors could influence the volatility in the trading price of our common shares, including changes in the economy or in the financial markets, industry related developments, the results of product development and commercialization, changes in government regulations, and developments concerning proprietary rights, litigation and cash flow. Our quarterly losses may vary because of the timing of costs for manufacturing, preclinical studies and clinical trials. Also, the reporting of adverse safety events involving our products and public rumors about such events could cause our share price to decline or experience periods of volatility. Each of these factors could lead to increased volatility in the market price of our common shares. In addition, changes in the market prices of the securities of our competitors may also lead to fluctuations in the trading price of our common shares.
We have never paid dividends and do not expect to do so in the foreseeable future.
We have not declared or paid any cash dividends on our common or preferred shares to date. The payment of dividends in the future will be dependent on our earnings and financial condition in addition to such other factors as our Board of Directors considers appropriate. Unless and until we pay dividends, shareholders may not receive a return on their shares. There is no present intention by our Board of Directors to pay dividends on our shares.
Future sales or issuances of equity securities and the conversion of outstanding securities to common shares could decrease the value of the common shares, dilute investors' voting power, and reduce our earnings per share. There are a large number of common shares underlying our outstanding options and warrants and the exercise of these options and/or warrants may depress the market price of our common shares and cause immediate and substantial dilution to our existing stockholders.
As of September 30, 2021, we had 104,995,125 common shares issued and outstanding, outstanding Series II First Preferred Shares convertible into an additional 6,750,000 common shares, outstanding DSUs convertible into an additional 1,045,950 common shares, outstanding RSUs convertible into an additional 4,607 common shares, outstanding options to purchase 5,951,628 common shares, outstanding warrants to purchase 5,400,000 Series II First Preferred Shares which are convertible in 5,400,000 common shares, and outstanding warrants to purchase 1,066,002 common shares. The issuance of common shares upon exercise of our outstanding options and warrants, or the conversion of our preferred shares or redemption of our DSUs, will cause immediate and substantial dilution to our stockholders.
We may sell additional equity securities in future offerings, including through the sale of securities convertible into equity securities, to finance operations, acquisitions or projects, and issue additional common shares if outstanding warrants or stock options are exercised, or preferred shares are converted to common shares, which may result in dilution. In the February 2019 public offering, we issued warrants with a price protection feature that resets the exercise price of the warrant under certain conditions including the issuance of common shares, or securities convertible into common shares, at prices below the exercise price of $0.96.
Our Board of Directors has the authority to authorize certain offers and sales of additional securities without the vote of, or prior notice to, shareholders. Based on the need for additional capital to fund expected expenditures and growth, it is likely that we will issue additional securities to provide such capital. Such additional issuances may involve the issuance of a significant number of common shares at prices less than the current market price for our common shares.
Sales of substantial amounts of our securities, or the availability of such securities for sale, as well as the issuance of substantial amounts of our common shares upon conversion of outstanding convertible equity securities, could adversely affect the prevailing market prices for our securities and dilute investors' earnings per share. A decline in the market prices of our securities could impair our ability to raise additional capital through the sale of securities should we desire to do so.